Science AI Journal
Social Sciences · Research topic

Open research questions in Library Science and Information Literacy

236 gap statements mined from Library Science and Information Literacy papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 5,729 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Library Science and Information Literacy? See the ranked Social Science journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • This gap in the research highlights the need to further investigate the unique challenges and factors influencing library resource utilization in vocational medical students.

    What factors influence vocational medical students’ self-perceived utilization of library resources? · 2026 · DOI

  • However, there is a significant gap in research on how vocational medical students, a key group in the healthcare workforce, utilize these resources.

    What factors influence vocational medical students’ self-perceived utilization of library resources? · 2026 · DOI

  • While several studies have examined the effectiveness of librarian interactions with clinicians and impact of librarians on patient care, no studies have explored a library's effects on population care.

    The impact of libraries and informationists on patient and population care: a mixed-methods study · 2024 · DOI

  • This study enhances the currently limited evidence on evidence-based approaches for assessing and improving research instruction for librarians.

    MLA Research Training Institute (RTI) 2018 and 2019: participant research confidence and program effectiveness · 2024 · DOI

  • The need for librarians to be consistent with professional development and skills enhancement. The lack of understanding of the impact of capacity building on librarians' use of online cataloguing and application software. The importance of effective innovative service delivery in academic libraries.

    Capacity Building on Librarians’ Use of Online Cataloguing and Application Software for Effective Innovative Services Delivery for Academic Libraries in Imo State, Nigeria. · 2026 · DOI

  • Training in communication and patron-service orientation should be prioritized to improve user satisfaction and engagement. Improve Organizational Support: Administrators should ensure stable infrastructure, recognition systems, and collaborative work environments to boost morale and effectiveness.

    Information Handling Capability and Job Performance of Library Personnel in Polytechnics and Colleges in Ibarapa East, Oyo State · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to examine the influence of layout and ergonomics on user comfort in university libraries. There is a lack of empirical studies on the spatial design and ergonomics of university libraries in Indonesia.

    Library Users' Perceptions of the Spatial Layout and Ergonomics of College Libraries in Pekanbaru · 2026 · DOI

  • The study has a limited sample size of 10 one-to-ones. It isn't possible to extrapolate confidently to other disciplines.

    Piloting an Information Literacy Framework for one-to-one teaching at the University of Oxford · 2026 · DOI

  • Partnership/collaboration has been a major challenge among LIS schools and between LIS schools and libraries. The lack of willingness, funding, sustainability, and limitations to effectiveness are challenges to partnership initiatives. Formalising partnerships by policy and fulfillable agreements and guidelines has also been lacking.

    Partnership of Libraries, Research, and LIS Education in Information Literacy · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on the development of information literacy as a multidisciplinary, dynamic, and technology-driven domain. Future research should investigate the impact of artificial intelligence on information literacy.

    Partnership of Libraries, Research, and LIS Education in Information Literacy · 2026 · DOI

  • A limitation of this study is that data was collected in a single time; a longitudinal study could provide insights into how load shedding’s effects change over time and its impact on academic performance. In addition, the findings are limited to information organisation modules and do not cover other modules offered in LIS qualifications.

    The impact of load shedding on information organisation education in South Africa · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to investigate the impact of professional development programs on teacher-librarians' attitudes towards educational technology and digital learning resources. There is a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by teacher-librarians in using educational technology and digital learning resources.

    Professional Development Program on Teacher-Librarians’ Attitudes towards Educational Technology and Digital Learning Resources for Inclusion in Public Secondary Schools · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on how first-generation students choose an elective academic literacy module in the absence of comparative information. The existing literature does not provide sufficient insights into the challenges faced by first-generation students in making informed decisions about their academic modules.

    How South African undergraduate first-generation university students choose an elective academic literacy module in the absence of comparative information: A case study of one comprehensive university in Johannesburg · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to develop and implement effective programs for hiring, training, and retaining student assistants. The challenge of assessing the impact of direct day-to-day supervision and performance appraisal processes on student assistant retention.

    Motivating and Retaining Student Assistants · 2026 · DOI

  • The survey had a limited number of respondents. The study is set in a small private liberal arts university, which may not be generalizable to other institutions.

    Motivating and Retaining Student Assistants · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies are recommended to include larger and more diverse samples across different academic disciplines and institutions, as well as incorporate additional variables, such as digital literacy, critical thinking, trust in AI, and academic integrity, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of AI utilization in higher education.

    The Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Information Use on the Information Literacy of Students in the Library and Information Science Program at Universitas Negeri Padang · 2026 · DOI

  • Few studies have explored school nurses' information needs, with little focus on searching behaviors or barriers to practice.

    More than the ABCs: assessing the information needs of school nurses · 2025 · DOI

  • Science teachers in hybrid educational environments, particularly Madrasahs, must adopt a holistic approach to their professional development that goes beyond textbook fluency. It is essential for educators to cultivate a reflective teaching identity that aligns with both academic standards and Islamic ethical values.

    Enhancing Students’ Engagement Of Library Use Through Integration With Regular Academic Activities: An Action Research · 2026 · DOI

  • Designing library spaces that meet user needs. Applying ergonomic principles in library design.

    Library Users' Perceptions of the Spatial Layout and Ergonomics of College Libraries in Pekanbaru · 2026 · DOI

  • One-to-one teaching should continue to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the reader. The framework should not be taken as a checklist for a one-to-one session.

    Piloting an Information Literacy Framework for one-to-one teaching at the University of Oxford · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited access to course syllabi. Difficulty in determining which courses are special topic courses.

    Evolving Landscape of Data Education in Library and Information Science Programs: A Content Analysis of American Library Association–Accredited Curricula · 2026 · DOI

  • The study only analyzed course titles and descriptions due to limited access to syllabi. The analysis may have overlooked courses covering data literacy topics. The study did not include special topic courses, which could be part of the regular course schedule.

    Evolving Landscape of Data Education in Library and Information Science Programs: A Content Analysis of American Library Association–Accredited Curricula · 2026 · DOI

  • Responding to evolving information literacy needs. Addressing declining enrollment in teacher education programs.

    Navigating the Future: A Survey of Curriculum Materials Centers and Collections in U.S. Academic Libraries · 2026 · DOI

  • Balancing attention between the library as a whole and students with special and complex needs. Providing support for students with learning disabilities. Implementing educational technology and digital learning resources in the library.

    Professional Development Program on Teacher-Librarians’ Attitudes towards Educational Technology and Digital Learning Resources for Inclusion in Public Secondary Schools · 2026 · DOI

  • Library leadership should invest in technology-based tools and simulation exercises to provide hands-on training in emotional regulation and data breach response.

    DATA PRIVACY PROTECTION PROCEDURE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLGENCE OF LIBRARY PERSONNEL OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA. · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Library Science and Information Literacy

Most recent work

Find a gap in your own Library Science and Information Literacy sub-topic

This page shows what the Library Science and Information Literacy literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 7.9M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

Open the Research Gap Finder →

Related topics in Social Sciences

Legal Issues in Turkey
2,143 open questions
Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
2,051 open questions
Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
1,901 open questions
Higher Education Research Studies
1,814 open questions
Global Educational Policies and Reforms
1,727 open questions
Impact of Technology on Adolescents
1,677 open questions
Electoral Systems and Political Participation
1,653 open questions
Science Education and Pedagogy
1,616 open questions
Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The lack of understanding of the impact of capacity building on librarians' use of online cataloguing and application software (“Capacity Building on Librarians’ Use of Online Cataloguing and Application…”, 2026); (2) There is a need to examine the influence of layout and ergonomics on user comfort in university libraries (“Library Users' Perceptions of the Spatial Layout and Ergonomics of College…”, 2026); (3) The lack of willingness, funding, sustainability, and limitations to effectiveness are challenges to partnership initiatives (“Partnership of Libraries, Research, and LIS Education in Information Literacy”, 2026); (4) There is a need to investigate the impact of professional development programs on teacher-librarians' attitudes towards educational technology and digital learning resources (“Professional Development Program on Teacher-Librarians’ Attitudes towards…”, 2026); (5) There is a lack of research on how first-generation students choose an elective academic literacy module in the absence of comparative information (“How South African undergraduate first-generation university students choose an…”, 2026). 236 gap statements have been mined from Library Science and Information Literacy papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 5,729 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

Tools for your next paper

Gaps & Literature SearchFind open questions in any field — 1,100,000+ open gaps mined from our own library.Pre-CheckIs your paper ready? Acceptance odds for top, mid and open/emerging journals, in seconds.Journal FinderA ranked shortlist of target journals from a 17,500-venue index.Duplicate Publication CheckerCheck for prior publication across 7 sources and our local library.Citation GeneratorFreeA DOI or title → APA, MLA, Vancouver, Chicago, BibTeX, RIS. No signup.Graphical Abstract MakerFreeTurn your findings into a colorblind-safe graphical abstract.

How Pre-Check worksHow AI Review works

Compare the category — Honest roundups of the AI research tools, ours listed alongside the alternatives.

Command palette

Jump anywhere, run any action.