The perspective of e-learning and libraries in Africa: challenges and opportunities

Purpose - This paper aims to examine and discuss the crucial roles libraries play in e-learning; the challenges and opportunities facing the e-learning program and the library's involvement. Design/methodology/approach - To elicit the necessary information, a literature review of studies done on e-learning and libraries was done. Materials were sourced online and offline to build the literature of this work. The paper gives an overview of e-learning and types; benefits of e-learning; the infancy stage of e-learning, libraries, and e-learning technologies; starting points for libraries and e-learning and challenges facing e-learning. Findings - A lot of challenges are facing the successful implementation of e-learning in institutions and also the role of libraries in enhancing e-learning needs a lot of issues to be addressed as library's involvement in e-learning is found to be very crucial. Practical implications - This paper establishes that libraries are the heart of institutions and so, are meant to play a vital role in the learning activities, as well as support all kinds of learning which includes e-learning. There is also need for librarians to be trained in adopting e-learning technologies and collaborating with faculties and departments in tutoring the learners. Originality/value - The study possesses two characteristics that make it different from other studies in the related area. First of all, it provides a theoretical basis for librarians to be actively involved in e-learning as it listed some responsibilities of the library and librarians in executing e-learning programmes. Secondly, the paper proposes six laws ((SmUL)-U-2-L-2) to govern e- learning and libraries.