About the Journal

The African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science (AJLAIS) is an international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the advancement of research, theory, and professional practice in Library and Information Sciences within the Social Sciences domain. The journal aims to strengthen information access, management, and preservation practices across Africa and the developing world, while contributing to global scholarship in information science and knowledge systems.

AJLAIS provides a platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas, share empirical findings, and explore innovations that promote effective information dissemination and sustainable development.

1. Library and Information Science

The journal publishes original research on all aspects of library science and information management, including:

• Library administration, strategic planning, and service innovation

• Cataloguing, classification, metadata standards, and knowledge organization

• Information retrieval systems and user experience

• Information literacy and digital literacy education

• Collection development, resource sharing, and interlibrary cooperation

• Research data management, open access, and institutional repositories

AJLAIS particularly welcomes studies that examine the role of libraries in social transformation, education, and knowledge equity across Africa.

2. Archives and Records Management

AJLAIS emphasizes the theoretical and applied dimensions of archival science and records management, focusing on:

• Archival theory, methods, and best practices

• Digital archiving, preservation, and conservation of heritage materials

• Lifecycle management of records and data integrity

• Archival access, transparency, and governance in the digital age

• Integration of archives in public administration and research infrastructure

The journal encourages contributions that address challenges in digitization, heritage documentation, and sustainable information preservation.

3. Information Systems and Technology Applications

Given the growing influence of digital transformation, AJLAIS promotes research in:

• ICT adoption in libraries, archives, and information centers

• Knowledge management systems and organizational information behavior

• Artificial intelligence and data analytics for information retrieval

• Cloud computing, big data, and digital repositories

• Technological innovations for access, preservation, and communication

Papers that explore practical and policy-driven approaches to technological change in African information institutions are especially welcome.

4. Knowledge, Communication, and Information Policy

The journal explores the broader communication and policy dimensions of information management, including:

• Scholarly communication, publishing ethics, and open science

• Bibliometric and scientometric analysis of information research trends

• Information policy, ethics, and governance in public and private sectors

• Copyright, privacy, and access to information legislation

• Professional education and capacity building in Library and Information Science

AJLAIS aims to provide critical perspectives on information governance and promote equitable access to knowledge for sustainable development.

Objective and Relevance

By integrating diverse subject areas within Library, Archives, and Information Science, the journal seeks to:

• Advance global understanding of information access, organization, and preservation

• Support innovation in library and archival systems through technology and policy research

• Foster professional collaboration and capacity building across Africa’s information landscape

• Contribute to the international dialogue on knowledge management and information ethics

Through this comprehensive and interdisciplinary scope, AJLAIS remains committed to promoting academic excellence, technological innovation, and inclusive knowledge dissemination across Africa and the global information community.

Publisher

Archlib and Information Services Ltd,

PO BOX 20492, 

IBADAN, 

NIGERIA, 

00000

Sponsoring Organizations

Archlib and Information Services Ltd,

PO BOX 20492, 

IBADAN, 

NIGERIA, 

00000

Peer Review

The Journal follows a double-blind review approach to ensure only high quality manuscripts are published. The peer-review process will affect research articles and general contributions. Book reviews are not subjected to peer-review. Once manuscripts are submitted through the online system (online journal system), the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the Editorial Team, assesses them to determine their appropriateness and/or relevance for the Journal and its readers. The manuscripts that are found to be appropriate and/or relevant are allocated and submitted to at least two peer reviewers. Peer-reviewers are keenly drawn from both national and international research communities, spanning a variety of sub-fields that constitute the broad field of LIS and related fields. Manuscripts can be accepted for publication (with minor corrections); accepted for publication (with the recommendation for major revisions); rejected (with the possibility of resubmission for review upon addressing the recommended revisions); or rejected outright. The review process takes a maximum of four weeks upon the submission of the manuscript to reviewers.

Publication Scheduling

The Journal items will be published collectively, as part of an issue with its own Table of Contents. The Journal publishes two issues per year in April and October

General