The literature of the information profession in anglophone Africa: characteristics, trends and future directions

Abstract

Eighty articles published in African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science were analysed with respect to characteristics of the authors, research trends and citation patterns. The study revealed a majority of the papers to be single-authored (81.25%). Most of the authors had a Master’s degree (71.29%), while a significant proportion (24.75%) held PhDs. Seventy-five per cent of the authors were trained in Nigeria, the UK and the USA. Most of the papers were on librarianship (77.5%). Archives and information science accounted for 11.25% and 10% respectively. Only 1.25% of the papers were on publishing. Most of the journals consulted by the authors were published in the USA, the UK, Nigeria and South Africa. The four countries accounted for 82.35%.