The key objective of this research was to compare the satisfaction levels of private and public university librarians (ULs) regarding research support services (RSSs). The study used judgmental and convenience sampling techniques to collect data from the respondents via a selfadministered questionnaire used offline/online. The questionnaire focused on four facets of RSSs. An independent t-test was applied for data analysis. The study outcomes illustrated that no significant difference existed between the librarians of private and public universities regarding the RSSs provided. The mean scores of the four RSSA factors confirmed that respondents were moderately satisfied with their RSSs. Moreover, in the majority of the cases, public ULs were slightly better than their counterparts in the private sector. The findings of this study might create healthy competition between the private and public ULs in Pakistan and abroad.

This paper aims to measure the digital literacy skills (DLSs) of university librarians (ULs) as the predictor of the enhanced digital reference services (DRSs) they provide. It also attempts to identify the best predictor of DLSs to improve DRSs in libraries. The study population comprised the ULs of Punjab, Pakistan. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect quantitative data from the study participants. The purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 190 ULs. The findings highlighted that the level of UL’s DLSs to provide DRSs was high. The DLSs of ULs created 59.8% variability in providing DRSs. Furthermore, the beta coefficient value of the factor ‘information retrieval skill’ was identified as the best predictor of DRSs compared to other skills. The results concluded that DLSs are a prerequisite for offering vibrant DRSs. This research may help ULs to improve the deficient areas of their DLSs and provide advanced-level DRSs. The findings may also help ULs and policymakers design continuous development training programs to enhance the DLSs of librarians.

The assessment was performed according to 57 indicators across the nine determinants identified in the model, including stakeholder engagement, community competence, content development, technology innovation, feedback systems, regulatory support, institutional cooperation, cultural inclusivity, and industrial partnerships. The population of the study comprised 117 staff working in IR units across 14 public universities in Nigeria. This study's findings reveal that none of the determinants influencing the implementation of Sustainable Institutional Repositories (IRs) have been fully realized. While six determinants have made significant progress, three remain at the initial implementation stage. Stakeholders indicate commendable performance in staff management for IRs, fostering teamwork, and strengthening internal relationships within the repository team. However, there is a noticeable absence of indices reflecting relationships between teams and scholars. Similarly, the findings reveal that universities lack partnerships with international journals/publishers and show minimal engagement with local peer-reviewed journals for depositing publications into repositories. These universities have not yet established affiliations with other repositories or digital libraries for data harvesting, nor have they endorsed any open-access declaration to support repository practices. Nigeria should revive and establish new collaborations for resource sharing, expertise, and data harvesting, as well as create partnerships with local and international journal publishers for deposits into the repositories. Library schools should reform their curricula to reflect the current practice of scholarly communication and repository management. This research is the first to measure the implementation level of Institutional Repositories (IRs) in Nigeria using a novel assessment framework tailored to the African context, offering a comprehensive analysis of 57 indicators across nine determinants of IR sustainability. It highlights progress in internal management while identifying significant gaps in external collaborations. The research provides valuable insights into stakeholder engagement and presents actionable recommendations, including policy development, fostering partnerships, and updating educational curricula to enhance IR sustainability in Nigerian universities.

This study explores the bibliometric dynamics, publication trends, and scholarly landscape of library services research in Pakistan from 1991 to 2023. It aimed to assess the growth, collaboration, and impact trends in Pakistani library services research. 449 documents were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using the bibliometric analysis tool Biblioshiny. Findings have revealed significant growth in research output, collaborative endeavors, and international recognition of Pakistani scholarship. However, a disparity between the publication output and citation uptake after 2011 was identified, signaling a potential research gap. The study highlights leading sources, highly cited papers, prominent institutions, prolific authors, and trending topics shaping the discourse in this field. The conclusion underscores the need for continued investment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and responsive research efforts to ensure the relevance, visibility, and sustainability of library services research in Pakistan. Implications include informing policy, guiding academic institutions, enhancing professional development, fostering global collaboration, and identifying future research directions to address critical issues facing library services in Pakistan.

The study explores the effect of Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) on Financial Well-Being (FWB) among young adults. It also investigates the moderating role of financial self-efficacy (FSE) between DFL and FWB. It is a quantitative study based on a questionnaire survey. Data was collected from digitally literate young adults aged 18-26 through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire has three constructs: DFL, FWB, and FSE. The sample size was determined according to itemized sampling criteria. The data was analyzed and the hypotheses were tested through SPSS and PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling). The findings showed that DFL and financial self-efficacy have a significant positive direct effect on financial well-being. The proposed moderating hypothesis was not accepted and indicates financial self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between DFL and financial well-being. It noted that a greater FSE strengthens the positive relationship between DFL and FWB, on the other hand, a lower FSE may lessen the positive effect. Financial organizations, such as banks and fintech organizations, can organize seminars and campaigns to instruct young adults on the proper use of digital financial platforms. Enhancing young adults' DFL and FSE leads to increased financial independence, stability, and well-being to make wise financial decisions while reducing their financial stress. It offers novel insights into the relationship between young adults' financial well-being and their level of financial selfefficacy and DFL.

This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis and science mapping of the publications emerging from the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Pakistan. Bibliometrics and visualization techniques were used in this study. The data were collected from the Web of Science database with the "COMSATS University Islamabad" query in the affiliation category. A total of 26,841 documents were retrieved. VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, ScientoPy, and MS Excel software were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the number of publications, particularly articles, has progressively increased. COMSATS had the most national collaborations with Quaid-e-Azam University, and China was identified as the top-ranked country for international collaborations. Furthermore, Engineering was the most attractive area for the CUI authors. This study would guide the researchers regarding important research areas while conducting, collaborating, and submitting their research in international databases.

Citizen science, the involvement of the public in scientific research, is a growing trend that presents both opportunities and challenges for academic libraries. This study delves into the realm of citizen science engagement within Malaysian academic libraries, offering a qualitative exploration of participation levels and difficulties confronted by academic librarians. Drawing upon in-depth interviews, our research unveils the multifaceted landscape of citizen science involvement in Malaysian academic libraries. Key findings underscore the potential benefits and hurdles academic libraries face in fostering citizen science initiatives. Results offer a comprehensive analysis of the present status and prospective development of citizen science initiatives in academic libraries in Malaysia. The study highlights the importance of addressing prevalent obstacles to optimize the advantages of involving the public in scientific research. It also contributes to the evolving field of library and information science by providing evidence of intricate dynamics and possible opportunities for citizen science within the academic library context.

This study aimed to analyze the scholarly productivity of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, over 50 years, from 1973 to 2022. Data indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database was used and included information such as document type, year-wise research output, leading authors, significant collaborative organizations, primary international author collaborations, key corresponding author affiliations by country, major funding agencies, and highly cited publications. For bibliometric visualization, the BiblioShiny and VOSviewer software tools were employed. A comprehensive analysis of 5502 publications across diverse categories, such as research articles, conference papers, abstracts, reviews, editorials and others, was conducted. The UET research productivity displayed a positive trend, with 2022 emerging as the most productive year. Research articles constituted the predominant publication type, showcasing their popularity. Collaboration emerged as a preferred approach among researchers, evidenced by the prevalence of co-authored publications. The majority of the corresponding co- authors were affiliated with Pakistani institutions. The University of the Punjab (PU), Pakistan, was a prominent collaborative partner among all institutes. China was identified as the primary international collaborator for the researchers. Furthermore, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan was seen to be the primary funding agency for researchers at UET. The research domain of "engineering" claimed the most productivity, and "performance" was the most frequently used keyword. This study helps understand UET's research performance in the domains of engineering, science and technology.

The use of social media has become widespread in recent years. It is an excellent source of social interaction, and students routinely use various social media platforms for different academic activities. This study aimed to review and synthesize research on social media usage and its impact on university students in Pakistan. The systematic literature review (SLR) technique was used. With the help of a refined search string, a systematic review of studies published in the English language between 2010 and2022 was conducted. The data was collected from the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) database. Thirty-one studies were selected after a rigorous review of 1244 studies. It was found that most quantitative research studies were conducted using the survey method and reported both positive and negative impacts of social media. The results highlighted that Pakistani students use social media for (1) knowledge sharing, (2) socialization, (3) political awareness, (4) job hunting, and (5) cross-cultural communication and coordination. They also support the positive impact of social media use among Pakistani students. The novelty of this research is rooted in the comprehensive search and systematic review of social media research from the Pakistani university student's perspective, which has not been unified to the present date. The results of this study would provide valuable insights to educational administrators regarding the formal adoption of social media technologies for teaching and research in the educational institutions of Pakistan.