Mapping cultural competence in library and information science research: A scoping review and bibliometric overview

Abstract

This scoping review maps the breadth of cultural competence research in library and information science, analysing themes and geographical and temporal trends, and identifying research gaps. Using bibliometric methods, 55 documents indexed in Scopus were examined for citation and keyword co-occurrence networks. The findings show cultural competence to be a niche but impactful field, with research output led by the USA. The dominant themes include diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism, with emerging areas like intersectionality and social justice underexplored. The temporal trends reveal a shift from foundational to nuanced topics, although gaps in cross-regional collaboration and thematic integration remain. The study underscores the need for global participation and focused research to enhance cultural competence's relevance in addressing systemic inequities. By identifying critical gaps and opportunities, this research provides a foundation for advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in library and information science.

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Papers that cite the same references — the relational fallback while embeddings are still backfilling.