Date of this Version
5-19-2026
Document Type
Article
Citation
Asare, C. A. B., Asah, M., Asare, G. K., Awudu, A., & Aggrey, S. B. (2026). Librarians' perspectives on integrating gardens into academic library spaces: Perceived benefits, challenges and opportunities. Library Philosophy and Practice.
Abstract
This study examined the perspectives of academic librarians on the integration of indoor gardens into library spaces. Data were obtained from 33 librarians through the use of a structured questionnaire. The collected data showed that 78.8% of the respondents indicated a favourable attitude towards garden integration. The respondents identified a number of benefits that academic libraries could derive from garden integration, including aesthetic appeal, environmental awareness, student well-being, and improved learning. Among the challenges stated were space constraints, maintenance demands, budgetary allocations, and a lack of horticultural expertise. Strategies that could aid effective garden integration within academic libraries include developing a sustainability plan, engaging students and staff, and pursuing external collaboration. Institutional commitment was identified as a major factor for the successful implementation of garden integration. The findings offer practical guidance for library administrators in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa considering garden initiatives.
Comments
Dear Editor,
Re: Resubmission — "Librarians' Perspectives on Integrating Gardens into Academic Library Spaces: Perceived Benefits, Challenges and Opportunities"
We write to resubmit the above-named manuscript for consideration in Library Philosophy and Practice (LPP), following your editorial decision of 14th May, 2026 in which you kindly indicated that the journal would be interested in considering a resubmission that does not contain AI-generated text.
We have taken your feedback seriously. The entire manuscript has been substantially rewritten by the authors in their own words to ensure that the work reflects our original thinking, professional experience, and scholarly voice. The revised manuscript has been checked using Drillbit, with a similarity index of 8% and an AI score of 18%, confirming that the text is now predominantly the original work of the authors.
The study examines the perspectives of 33 academic librarians in Ghana on the integration of indoor gardens into academic library spaces. It explores the perceived benefits, anticipated challenges, and recommended strategies for implementation, and contributes to a gap in the literature on green library practice in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We confirm that this manuscript is original, has not been published elsewhere, and is not currently under review by any other journal. All authors have approved the final version and agreed to its submission to LPP.
We hope the revised manuscript will now be found suitable for publication and look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Comfort Akosua Boatemaa Asare (Corresponding Author)
Wisconsin International University College, Ghana
Email: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0002-9682-9678
On behalf of all authors:
Millicent Asah (ORCID: 0009-0007-1041-8047)
Samuel Bentil Aggrey (ORCID: 0000-0001-7572-6963)
Greggory Kuttin Asare (ORCID: 0009-0005-7496-6953)
Adamu Awudu (ORCID: 0009-0001-4730-4648)