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Innovations in the 21st century have reshaped learning among people of different age, educational qualification, race, gender and geographical location. As a lifelong behaviour, it is predicted that the future of learning will transcend the conventional learning pattern and walls of the classroom with the introduction of open practices (such as the open educational resources) and the decolonization of educational content for both formal and informal learning. This discussion and many more characterized the 5thAfLIA conference and 7th African Library Summit in Accra, Ghana, as Librarians in Africa gathered to discuss the future of learning, libraries and sustainable development in Africa. The conference provided opportunity for Librarians in Africa to re-think their place in the future of learning and help achieve sustainable development. This paper, therefore, highlights the key activities and issues discussed during the 5th AfLIA Conference and 7th African Library Summit held in Accra, Ghana, from 22nd to 26th May, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The continuous advancement in technology has disrupted practices in many sectors, including education. Thus, this study aims to examine digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: The survey type of descriptive research design was adopted in this study while the population of the study comprised librarians in universities in Delta State. A total of 38 randomly selected librarians from four universities in Delta State were used for this study, and the data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings: This study revealed that the level of digital librarianship practice in university libraries in Delta State for sustainable development is low; just as social media tools, open source integrated library systems and Google Cloud Platforms are the most commonly used open access technologies in the libraries. Furthermore, this study showed that perennial factors such as poor funding of education, inadequate quality educational infrastructure, mismanagement of education fund among others are hindrance to sustainable development in the country's educational sector. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited in its use of only one state (out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) in Nigeria for this research. Also, social desirability bias on the part of the respondents could have influenced the pattern in which the respondents reacted to items in section D. Practical implications: This study has practical implications for the sensitization and training of librarians towards leveraging on the various open access technologies in delivering effective library and information services required in the Fourth Industrial revolution. Originality/value: This study seeks to pioneer a new area of focus by examining digital librarianship practice and open access technology use as enablers of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 has generated negative emotional responses that could inhibit individual's intention to abide by stipulated preventive measures. Thus, investigation into factors that predicts individual's abidance to these preventive measures is crucial in halting the spread of the pandemic. Consequently, this study applied the cornerstone model to examine Emotional Intelligence (EI) as predictor of abidance to COVID-19 preventive measures by librarians in Nigeria. Survey research design of the correlation type was employed to investigate librarians in Nigeria. Questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection and was considered fit for the study by an overall Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of α = 0.86. The responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that the level of abidance to COVID-19 preventive measures and EI were high by X ¯ = 31.46 and X ¯ = 67.47 respectively. The four cornerstone dimensions of EI, all had significant positive relationships to the abidance of COVID-19 preventive measures. The EI dimensions also had linear prediction of abidance to COVID-19 preventive measures by 17.3%. The high proportion by which the COVID-19 pandemic spreads can be halted by strict abidance to its preventive measures. Such abidance is stimulated by the emotional intelligence of the librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focused on technological readiness and computer self-efficacy as predictors of E-learning adoption by Library and Information Science (LIS) students in Nigeria. While literatures have suggested that E-learning adoption is context based, there is a need to examine the predictors of E-learning adoption within the Nigerian context, given the increasing need for E-learning adoption as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a result, the study used the descriptive correlational research design to study a group of LIS students in Nigeria. Consequently, LIS students in the Nigeria Library and Information Science Students (NLISS) Facebook group were used for the study. The population of the group was 1,807 at the time the study was conducted and the sample size for the study was 320 randomly selected respondents. The sample size was achieved using the Krejcie, R. V., and D. W. Morgan. 1970. "Determining Sample Size for Research Activities." Educational and Psychological Measurement 30: 607–10 table for determining sample size. Data was collected from the respondents using a closed-ended questionnaire consisting of adapted scales for all the variables. The 223 responses retrieved within a period of three weeks were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings from the investigation showed technological readiness, computer self-efficacy and E-learning adoption of the LIS students is very high. Though technological readiness and computer self-efficacy had relative contribution to E-learning adoption, computer self-efficacy had higher contribution. The study also revealed that significant relationships exist between technological readiness and E-learning adoption, computer self-efficacy and E-learning adoption, technological readiness and computer self-efficacy, while technological readiness and computer self-efficacy had joint prediction on E-learning adoption by LIS students in Nigeria. The study therefore emphasized the need to consider certain individual factors as criteria to the successful adoption of E-learning among LIS students in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of makerspace in a library is one that has re-emphasized the importance of library spaces in today's digitally controlled society. Makerspace as a concept promote creative learning, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills among people and also inspires them to shift from being passive consumers to active creators. The library makerspace provides space for people of all ages to build prototypes, explore new ideas, and build something together, thus enhancing human capacity building among library users. Consequently, this paper theoretically examined makerspace as a library tool for capacity building in developing countries. The concept of makerspace, makerspace tools, and the best practices for effective makerspace were discussed. The paper also explored makerspace as a library tool for capacity building as well as the challenges faced in creating library makerspaces. The paper concluded that library makerspaces provide a safe place for people to feel comfortable creating and using powerful tools without feeling pressured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated library and information services for socio-political rebirth in Nigeria. To this end, three pertinent research objectives were raised to guide the conduct of the study. The survey type of descriptive research design was adopted for a population of 59 library staff from Delta State Library Board, Asaba and Edo State Library Board, Benin City in South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. Using complete enumerative sampling technique, questionnaire was adopted as the tool for data collection. Out of the 59 copies of questionnaire distributed, 55 were retrieved and found useful, constituting 93% response rate. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the vital library and information services for socio-political rebirth in Nigeria include community club and community involvement services, internet access services, research support services, organizing makerspace programmes, awareness and sensitization campaign, readership campaign, computer and entrepreneurial training amongst others. Furthermore, the study showed that majority of the library and information services for socio-political rebirth in Nigeria are rendered less often (occasionally) due to the problems faced by public libraries in services delivery which includes poor funding, epileptic power supply, lack of adequate support from the government, inadequate library infrastructure, poor users' perception of the library and poor reading culture among Nigerians. Thus, the study recommended that the government should have total commitment in the provision of infrastructure, recruitment of competent librarians and improved welfare packages for effective service delivery among public libraries in the state. Therefore, all state government should make library development a top priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]