ACADEMIC LIBRARIES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Keywords:
academic libraries, human development, knowledge acquisition, information literacy, sustainable development goals, capability approachAbstract
This systematic review examines the contributions of academic libraries to human development and knowledge acquisition, with particular attention to their roles in supporting lifelong learning, information literacy, educational equity, digital transformation, and community engagement within higher education. The review followed a modified PRISMA 2020 framework to identify, screen, and select relevant peer-reviewed empirical and conceptual studies published between 2021 and 2025. Studies were retrieved from databases including SAGE Journals, ScienceDirect, IFLA Journal, and Information Development. Following the application of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, ten studies were included for thematic synthesis. The analysis revealed five major themes: academic libraries as agents of lifelong learning and educational equity; library support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a human development framework; the role of information literacy in enabling knowledge acquisition and higher-order cognitive development; the impact of digital transformation and learning analytics on library-supported student success; and community engagement as a mechanism for extending library-enabled human development beyond formal academic boundaries. The findings indicate that academic libraries contribute significantly to capability development, equitable access to knowledge, and civic participation. This review synthesises recent evidence on the relationship between academic libraries, human development, and knowledge acquisition. It highlights the evolving role of academic libraries as multidimensional institutions that support not only information access but also human capability enhancement, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
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