IT developments in Eastern and Southern Africa: implications for university libraries

Mutula, Stephen M.

doi:10.1108/07378830010360437

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Among the personal barriers are the low level of awareness, lack of training or only basic training, limited skills, computer illiteracy and improper marketing. These findings concur with the results of Akporhonor and Akpojotor (2016), Ingutia-Oyieke and Dick (2010), MacMillan (2009), Manda (2005), Mutula (2000) and Odero-Musakali and Mutula (2007). The absence of physical barriers affecting the use of ERs is evident in the fact that the South African Government is investing through the Department of Higher Education in the acquisition of ICTs and ERs and in improving bandwidth and connectivity at universities.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Among which are a lack of awareness, information illiteracy, lack of skills, low bandwidth and ICT challenges. Simply put, physical and personal barriers are the two major obstacles to the use of ERs in most of these universities (Akporhonor and Akpojotor, 2016; Ingutia-Oyieke and Dick, 2010; MacMillan, 2009; Manda, 2005; Mutula, 2000; Odero-Musakali and Mutula, 2007). Physical barriers relate to inadequate infrastructure networks, such as intranets and the internet; lack of native-language content; software power outages; and restricted access to ICT facilities, especially the internet.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of electronic resources by undergraduate students at the University of Venda, South Africa

Tlakula

Fombad

2017

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Purpose This paper aims to establish the level of use of the electronic resources at the University of Venda, which is one of the previously disadvantaged universities in South Africa. It identifies the different electronic resources used at the university, determines the level of awareness and training in the use of these resources and suggests ways in which electronic resources may be enhanced. The rapid changes in the information and communication technology (ICTs) have influenced service delivery in academic libraries in terms of how information is gathered, accessed, retrieved and used. Hence, electronic resources are invaluable research tools in academic libraries in the twenty-first century. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research methodology was adopted, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant to get in-depth information. The target population was all third-year students registered with the School of Human and Social Sciences at the University of Venda. The third year undergraduate students from this particular school where chosen because statistics revealed that these students where ranked among the top in the use of computers. Findings The findings revealed that the level of usage of these resources by undergraduate students is elementary and limited to SABINET and EBSCO host. Undergraduate student’s level of awareness of the different electronic resources is low. They confused electronic resources to Web-based internet sources. It also revealed that the level of awareness and training in the use of these resources is still generic, as training is mostly a once off orientation at the first year. Research limitations/implications This paper focuses on third year undergraduate students who were using computers because the researchers were interested in finding out whether students using computers were also using electronic resources. It excluded other profiles such as age, gender and computer usage behaviour of electronic resources. Practical implications Adequate use and knowledge of electronic resources at universities is instrumental towards realisation of the country’s ICT Strategy and the outcome-based education (OBE) model of teaching movement. Suggestions are made to the university, the university library, university librarians and the Library Association of South Africa on how to enhance the use of electronic resources. Originality/value It establishes the level of use of electronic resources in one of South African historically disadvantaged universities, a point of contact to other previously South African disadvantaged universities and make suggestions on how electronic resources may be enhanced. It adds to the body of knowledge on the use of electronic resources in academic libraries in South African universities.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of electronic resources by undergraduate students at the University of Venda, South Africa

Tlakula

Fombad

2017

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“…The rapid and continuing evolution of information technology has occasioned large stocks of electronic resources in libraries and created pressure for both library professionals and users to continue learning in order to provide effective service and make adequate use of the new information materials (Mutula, 2000). In the present study, it was found that 9 percent of respondents replied affirmatively saying that they have undergone formal course for educating the users and 74 percent said that did not undergo any educating course.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Awareness and use of digital resources in the libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Asemi

Riyahiniya

2007

The Electronic Library

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PurposeThe survey aims to investigate the relationships between awareness and use of digital resources among students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive method has been used and users of the medical libraries and information centers affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences have been surveyed in the research. A total of 250 students were selected randomly as a sample. A structured questionnaire was designed for collecting data.FindingsThe results were that 70 percent of students were aware of digital resources, but only 69 percent of them have used them; 62 percent were aware of offline databases, whereas only about 19 percent used them through the Central Library LAN network. About 70 percent were aware of online databases, accessible via the Central Library web site, and about 53 percent of respondents have used them. A total of 64 percent were aware of the “CLBJ Database”, while over half of them made use of it. In total 87 percent of students felt that the available data resources met their information needs. Students had less use of offline databases, attributed to factors such as infrequent periodic orientation and lack of education on use of offline databases and fewer terminals connected to the server in the Central Library. Users are faced with problems like low speed connectivity and shortage of hardware facilities.Originality/valueWhen the user is aware of one resource, it will lead to more use of that resource. Isfahan University of Medical Sciences is aiming to develop new information centers and it needs to increase the extent of discovery of knowledge. On this base the paper has examined awareness, use and information retrieval of available digital resources and thus will be of benefit to others in a similar position.

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“…South Africa has several vendors of several systems such as STYLIS, ITS, URICA, ERUDITE and small library systems suitable for schools such as Libwin, Papyrus, etc. (Mutula, 2000b). On the other hand, the use of consortia to automate library functions has become increasing popular especially in each of the South Africa's nine provinces.…”

Section: Library Automation Environment In Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

IT diffusion in Sub‐Saharan Africa: implications for developing and managing digital libraries

Mutula

2004

New Library World

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IFLA-Africa section workshop on "developing and managing digital libraries" that was held in Gaborone Botswana from 23-27 February 2004. The author points out that libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa like their counterparts in the rest of the world are continuing to experience a period of rapid change as they prepare to participate in the global information society. In this endeavour, the libraries face various challenges of economic, technological, content, and information literacy nature. In a global information society, there is need to democratize access to information using ICTs, provide adequate and relevant local content to users and equip them with requisite information literacy skills to efficiently find their way in a maze of information networks. This paper discusses the patterns of ICTs diffusion within libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the implications for the development and management of digital libraries.

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IT developments in Eastern and Southern Africa: implications for university libraries

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

The use of electronic resources by undergraduate students at the University of Venda, South Africa

The use of electronic resources by undergraduate students at the University of Venda, South Africa

Awareness and use of digital resources in the libraries of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

IT diffusion in Sub‐Saharan Africa: implications for developing and managing digital libraries

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