Metaverse revolution shaping the future of African library and information science research and scholarly publishing

This study examines how the emerging metaverse is shaping and can further transform the future of Library and Information Science (LIS) research and scholarly publishing in Africa. Using a mixed-methods research design, data were collected from LIS researchers, librarians, scholarly publishers, and research administrators to assess awareness levels, perceived opportunities, infrastructural readiness, and socio-technical challenges associated with metaverse adoption. Findings reveal growing awareness of core immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, while knowledge of advanced applications including blockchain-enabled publishing, AI-driven immersive environments, and digital twins remains limited. Despite uneven awareness, respondents recognize the metaverse’s strong potential to expand access to research outputs, enhance scholarly collaboration, and improve the global visibility of African LIS scholarship. However, adoption is constrained by infrastructural deficits, capacity gaps, policy and governance limitations, and ethical concerns related to data privacy, intellectual property, and inclusivity. The study emphasizes that metaverse integration is fundamentally a socio-technical process rather than a purely technological endeavor. It proposes incremental and hybrid adoption models, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative governance frameworks to support equitable and sustainable implementation. By foregrounding African epistemic contexts and digital inclusion, the study provides practical insights for LIS stakeholders and policy makers seeking to responsibly harness the metaverse to strengthen research and scholarly publishing ecosystems across Africa.