International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology

Framework to Enhance Critical Information Literacy in University Libraries in Kenya

James Njue Mutegi — 2026-03-30

Purpose: This study investigated adopting a framework to enhance CIL in selected university universities in Kenya. CIL evaluates the effectiveness of Information Literacy (IL), disrupts unfair systems, and creates student- driven IL instruction.

Methodology: A Descriptive survey research design was used to gather information on a framework to enhance CIL in selected university universities in Kenya. The research was carried out in fourteen university libraries in Kenya. The fourteen university libraries were purposely sampled because they had subscribed to electronic resources and KENET ICT infrastructure and had employed ICT and reference librarians. The target population was 14 University Librarians. The census approach involved all fourteen librarians in this research study. Data was collected on the interview schedule. Atlas. ti was used to analyze qualitative data.

Findings: These findings show that university librarians associate CIL with information retrieval. In addition, the findings revealed that the librarians identified key codes of CIL, such as supporting users in access to information, user education, critical thinking, and user information resources. Based on these findings, the study proposes a CIL framework consisting of six steps: Awareness Creation, User needs Assessment and Information Gap, CIL Library Infrastructure, CIL infrastructure, Librarian Empowerment, User Empowerment, and CIL Evaluation.

Leveraging Ethnobiological Animal Grouping for Database Normalisation

Lubabalo Mbangata — 2026-03-30

Purpose: This research paper explores the intersection of ethnobiology and database normalisation by examining how the traditional categorisation of animals in indigenous knowledge systems aligns with database design principles. Ethnobiology often documents how communities classify animals based on cultural, ecological, and functional attributes. This paper demonstrates how such classifications can illustrate the stages of database normalisation, a process used to organise data efficiently in relational databases. These classifications are based on how South African people understand these groupings.

Methodology: The study begins with unnormalised data, where animal categories are recorded as they exist in their raw, unstructured form, and these animals are selected in no particular order or merit as long as they are living animals and can be categorised. Progressing to the first normal form (1NF), the data is organised into a tabular structure with unique rows and atomic values. In the second normal form (2NF), redundancies are reduced by ensuring that all non-primary attributes depend on the entire primary key. Finally, in the third normal form (3NF), transitive dependencies are eliminated, creating a fully normalised, efficient data model.

Findings: The findings highlight how ethnobiological data naturally follows hierarchical and relational patterns, making it an effective analogy for understanding database normalisation. This approach not only enhances the understanding of database concepts but also underscores the value of indigenous knowledge in illustrating complex technical processes. This study also notes that using this concept might be irrelated to other contexts, hence the advocation for further interdisciplinary exploration between ethnobiology and information science.

Natural Language Processing as a Catalyst for Library Innovation

Sailendra Malik — 2026-03-30

The system evaluates the impact of applying NLP to library services on user accessibility, response speed, and interactive capabilities. Information processing enables computers to both process written documents and convert spoken words into written text, which becomes usable content. The system operates with spaCy, Hugging Face, MARC, and Dublin Core metadata platforms to clean data and tokenize information before building semantic models. The combination of GPT with BERT alongside improved language models enables libraries to automate their cataloging system and deliver both contextual search options and personalized suggestions. The platform gives users multilingual capabilities and efficiency tools and protects privacy through security protocols. Through neural translation, libraries eliminate linguistic roadblocks so users obtain speech tools for visual help. Despite strategic and ethical issues with resource limitations, solutions that aim to change library management systems can still be implemented. The framework proved that AI systems have the potential to improve the information organization and search capabilities in libraries. This methodology uses intelligent automation to determine how libraries will develop into space, providing inclusive knowledge access for future generations.

Lost Archives? Preservation of Ephemeral COVID-19 Data for Research

Tolulope Balogun — 2026-03-30

This study explores the significance of web archives in preserving COVID-19-related data and information, emphasizing their potential for future research and their role in documenting major events like the pandemic. Adopting a qualitative research approach, the study utilizes web content analysis to examine the availability of selected COVID-19-related websites on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine between January 20, 2020, and April 17, 2020. The analysis focuses on the presence of these webpages and the frequency of their archival crawls. Findings reveal that while the Internet Archive actively harvested COVID-19-related webpages, the frequency of crawls varied, and some pages were not archived as frequently as needed. Rather than examining update rates, the study highlights the accessibility and archival frequency of these webpages. The research is limited in scope, concentrating on a selected group of COVID-19-related websites and emphasizing the importance of web archiving without delving into technical analyses or the issue of online misinformation. Despite these limitations, the study highlights the value of web archives as essential tools for preserving digital records of significant events and demonstrates their potential for future research. By showcasing the function and value of web archiving, this study contributes to ongoing discussions about its role in research, particularly in an interdisciplinary context. It also provides a foundation for discussions on web archiving in Africa, offering insights into its relevance and possibilities for further exploration.

Knowledge Sharing Practices Among Library Personnel in a University Library: A Case Study

Thomas Ogunmodede — 2026-03-30

This research delved into the dynamics of knowledge sharing within Ladoke Akintola University of Technology’s library system, focusing on specific units such as Cataloguing / Classification, Acquisition, Circulation, Reference, Virtual, and Serials Units. The study explored the challenges and opportunities associated with knowledge exchange in different functional areas, providing a comprehensive understanding of knowledge sharing dynamics within the university library context. The population comprised 55 library personnel, including professional and para-professional librarians. In addition, the research employed total enumeration sampling technique due to the small population size in order to ensure minimal sampling bias and enhanced reliability of findings. Data collection relied on a structured questionnaire designed to capture information on knowledge sharing behaviors, motivations, and channels. Moreover, the questionnaire incorporated multiple response formats and clear instructions to facilitate comprehensive data collection. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis and the results presented in tables. The findings revealed a positive inclination towards knowledge sharing among library personnel, driven by intrinsic motivations such as personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement. External incentives such as career advancement also play a role in motivating knowledge sharing. Moreover, face-to-face interaction emerges as a predominant channel for knowledge exchange, supplemented by technological platforms such as email, mobile phones, and social media.

Issues and Challenges in Digitalizing Local Content

Opene Sunday Ozonuwe — 2026-03-30

This study examines the issues and challenges associated with the digitalisation of local content in three academic libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria: Federal University of Agriculture Library (Nimbe Adedipe Library), Olabisi Onabanjo University Library, and Covenant University Library (Centre for Learning Resources). The objectives include assessing the extent of digitalisation, identifying types of local content digitised, understanding librarians’ attitudes towards digitalisation initiatives, exploring reasons for digitalisation, identifying challenges encountered, and proposing strategies to overcome these challenges. A survey research design was adopted, covering a population of 84 personnel, including librarians, library officers, and system analysts. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and phone interviews. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was employed for data analysis, with results presented using frequency tables, percentages, and charts. Findings indicate that the extent of digitalisation in the studied academic libraries is moderately high, with faculty expertise directories, theses, and dissertations having the highest digitalisation rates. Librarians’ attitudes toward digitalisation were both positive and negative, with many recognizing its benefits for skill development, research, and institutional visibility, while concerns about copyright abuse, resistance to change, and technological adaptation persisted. The primary motivations for digitalisation included increased accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and cultural heritage preservation. Challenges identified included copyright and ownership issues, data privacy concerns, limited infrastructure, high equipment costs, insufficient funding, and a lack of skilled personnel. The study concluded that while digitalisation efforts are progressing in academic libraries, significant challenges hinder full implementation. The study recommended strategies for overcoming these challenges include adopting emerging technologies, enhancing digital infrastructure, addressing legal and copyright issues, capacity building, increasing awareness and support, and promoting open-access initiatives.

Stone and Village Memory

Younghee Noh — 2026-03-30

This study analyzes how the dolmens of Seongsong-myeon, Gochang, intertwine with village memory to shape the temporality of a cultural landscape. We combine place, memory, and landscape perspectives and triangulate field records with terrain-horizon readings, ritual reports, and oral histories. Siting and axial orientation inscribe seasonal horizons and rhythms, while ritual, commemoration, and pedagogy translate them into social memory. We trace shifts in interpretation—from colonial surveys and development to World Heritage discourse—and their effects on place-making. Framed as “landscaping temporality,” the results inform outdoor interpretation, STEAM, sky friendly lighting, and inclusive routes, repositioning megalithic heritage from archaeological chronology toward community life.