Adeola Adesoji ARINOLA (Ph.D) and John Olugbenga AKINOLA (Ph.D)
In today’s data-centric era, the exponential growth of data generation has ushered in unprecedented opportunities for knowledge discovery and decision-making. Traditionally, Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals have been the custodians of information,are now uniquely positioned to adapt and empower users as data navigators.Through a mixed-methods approach involving literature reviews, and content analysis,this study explores the evolving role of LIS professionals in enhancing data literacy across diverse user groups, emphasizing the intersection of information and data sciences. This study holds significance for the evolving roles of LIS professionals and the urgent need for enhanced data literacy. Furthermore, it offers pragmatic insights that can inform changes in LIS education and policies. While data literacy empowers informed decision-making and critical thinking, LIS professionals face challenges, including technological complexities, educational gaps, ethical considerations, cultural resistance, data quality issues, and limited collaboration. Overcoming these challenges is vital for equipping LIS professionals with the skills needed to thrive in the data-driven paradigm and promoting data literacy among individuals from diverse backgrounds. This study underscores the importance of data literacy and the pivotal role of LIS professionals in navigating the complexities of the modern information landscape, ultimately contributing to an informed and data-literate society.