Information Specialist 5.0

Name: Sesemane Cyril 

Surname: Tlomatsana

Cell:  079 887 9391

Email: Tlomatsana.sc@gmail.com

I am an academic librarian and information specialist with a developing scholarly profile focused on the role of libraries in supporting teaching, learning, and research within higher education. My work combines professional practice with research, with a particular interest in how academic libraries respond to emerging challenges linked to digital scholarship, generative artificial intelligence, and academic integrity.

I hold a Master’s degree in Information Science from the University of South Africa, where my research examined the role of academic libraries in combating academic misconduct. This work explored how libraries contribute to fostering ethical academic practices through instructional support, policy alignment, and targeted interventions. It also engaged with broader institutional responses to intellectual integrity within contemporary higher education contexts.

My research agenda sits at the intersection of information literacy, artificial intelligence literacy, and student academic development. I have a sustained interest in academic writing practices, information-seeking behaviour, the use of library databases, and open access scholarship. More recently, my work has expanded to examine the implications of generative AI for research support, student learning, and the evolving responsibilities of academic librarians.

I have been actively involved in scholarly dissemination through conference participation and peer-reviewed publications. My work has been presented at national and international platforms, including conferences organised by the Council on Higher Education, the University of South Africa, the Independent Institute of Education, and the Southern African Conference for Artificial Intelligence Research. These contributions have addressed themes such as artificial intelligence in academic libraries, student research support, academic misconduct, and human-centred AI in higher education.

My publication record reflects a growing and focused research trajectory. I have an accepted journal article on the use of generative AI tools for student research support, alongside peer-reviewed conference proceedings on academic misconduct and postgraduate students’ engagement with AI as a research tool. In addition, I have ongoing and forthcoming work on information-seeking behaviour in the Fourth Industrial Revolution context, as well as a revised manuscript examining how academic libraries can rebuild trust in academic outputs through targeted interventions.

Professionally, I continue to work closely with students and academic staff, providing research support, information literacy training, and guidance on academic writing and referencing. This practice-based engagement informs my research and ensures that my scholarly contributions remain grounded in the realities of higher education.

My long-term research direction is concerned with how academic libraries can position themselves as key agents in supporting ethical scholarship, enhancing student success, and responding to technological change. I am particularly interested in the development of frameworks that integrate information literacy and AI literacy, and in understanding how these competencies can be embedded within higher education curricula.