Navigating open educational resources: insights into the practices and current landscape of Malaysian academic libraries

Purpose This study aims to explore how Malaysian academic libraries are engaging with open educational resources (OER), focusing on their current practices and limitations. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design was used, guided by the CARE principles: contribute, attribute, release and empower, which serve as the analytical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine academic librarians to explore their roles in OER initiatives and the challenges they encounter. The transcripts of the interviews were analyzed thematically, and the results were mapped to the CARE areas to provide actionable insights. Findings This study provides empirical insights into the current practices of Malaysian academic libraries in supporting OER initiatives. Malaysian academic libraries show strong engagement in OER advocacy and resource dissemination, particularly in the Contribute and Release domains of the CARE framework. The libraries demonstrate their commitment by developing OER guides that raise awareness and help users find, access and use OER materials. However, critical gaps in Attribute and Empower, including limited licensing literacy, lack of formal OER roles and minimal institutional support, pose significant barriers to scaling OER adoption. Research limitations/implications The study’s purposive sample limits statistical generalizability and practical relevance. The findings are based on a small sample and may not represent all Malaysian academic libraries. Future research should strategically explore faculty perspectives to better understand how academic staff would like libraries to support OER initiatives, thereby improving the uptake and impact of OER services. Practical implications This study offers actionable insights and strategic guidance to enhance OER services in academic libraries. The findings highlight the need for libraries to move beyond foundational awareness and access efforts toward more structured and sustainable practices in licensing, capacity building and institutional collaboration. By adopting these strategies, libraries can strengthen their position as central enablers of open education, drive broader curricular integration and align institutional efforts with global OER standards and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). Social implications By identifying both strengths and systemic gaps in the current practices of Malaysian academic libraries, this study highlights their untapped potential to drive educational equity through OER. When equipped with the right tools, institutional policies and strategic support, libraries can evolve into powerful agents of social transformation, bridging access gaps, fostering inclusive learning environments and promoting lifelong learning. Strengthening library-led OER initiatives not only enhances the accessibility and affordability of education, but also contributes to broader societal goals such as reducing educational disparities and supporting the democratization of knowledge. These implications are especially relevant for advancing SDG4, which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Originality/value This study provides new insights into academic libraries’ engagement with OER, focusing on current practices and constraints within HEIs. This study offers a novel contribution to the discourse on open education by providing one of the first comparative assessments of OER engagement across Malaysian higher education institutions. It moves beyond surface-level analysis to uncover the institutional dynamics, infrastructural readiness and strategic gaps that shape OER visibility and adoption. By applying the CARE framework, the study generates fresh insights into how academic libraries navigate the complexities of OER engagement, highlighting both promising practices and constraints.