Factors Influencing Open Access Sustainability in Somali University Libraries: A SWOT-Based SEM Analysis

The sustainability of Open Access (OA) initiatives in academic libraries is now widely acknowledged as a strategic goal for improving equitable access to scholarly knowledge, especially in developing and post-conflict higher education settings. The implementation and sustainability of OA services, however, requires a mix of internal institutional capacity and external environmental factors. The factors that affect the sustainability of OA services in university libraries are explored in this study using a SWOT-based analytical framework supported by the Resource Based View (RBV), the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, and Institutional Theory. A quantitative research design was used, with data gathered by means of a structured survey instrument that was developed from existing literature, validated by domain experts and pilot tested. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the collected data and explore the relationships between organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, OA adoption, and sustainability. The results indicate that human capital and technological capabilities are important organizational assets that can greatly facilitate the adoption of OA, whereas financial limitations and infrastructural shortcomings are important barriers to implementation. The findings also show that external opportunities, such as donor support, strategic partnerships and collaborative networks, have a positive impact on OA adoption, while political instability and economic uncertainty have a negative impact on sustainability outcomes. Furthermore, the adoption of OA was a key factor in the sustainability of library services, underscoring the need to embed OA practices into the core activities of libraries. This study combines SWOT analysis with a theory-based SEM approach, enriching the current literature on Open Access sustainability and offering practical strategic guidance for library managers, university leaders, and policy makers aiming to create resilient and sustainable Open Access ecosystems in the context of limited resources in higher education institutions.