1,720,977 research outputs found
Provision of public library services to meet the information needs of rural dwellers in the North-Western zone of Nigeria.
Get PDFDoctor of Philosophy in Information Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2019.The study examined the provision of public library services to meet the information needs of rural dwellers in the North-Western zone of Nigeria. The following research questions were addressed: What are the information needs of the rural dwellers in the North-Western zone of Nigeria? What skills do rural dwellers effectively use to identify, access and use information
from public libraries? What information sources and services are used by rural dwellers to seek and satisfy their information needs from the library? What channels are used by the public libraries to disseminate information to the rural dwellers? What challenges are faced by the rural dwellers in seeking and using information from public libraries? The study was
underpinned by Wilson’s 1981 model of information behaviour and Aina’s 2006 model of library-extension service linkage. Pragmatic research paradigm and mixed methods research were employed. A sample of 427 was drawn from the library users, heads of branch libraries and directors of the state library boards. Interviews, observation and questionnaires were used
to collect data. The qualitative data was analyzed using different types of content analysis one of which was thematic. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS computer software.
The findings revealed that the information needs of the rural dwellers revolved around agriculture, health, education, economy, government policies, rural development, culture and recreation. Among the major skills used by rural dwellers to identify, access and use information was visiting the libraries to use the information sources available. The findings also showed that the rural dwellers as well used other sources to identify access and use information beside those of the libraries. These included contacting friends, neighbours, relatives, and other people during market days, town criers, extension workers, gatekeepers,
village heads, religious leaders, oral traditional healers as well as contacts through cell phones. Among the formal sources used by rural dwellers were receiving information on radio and television, visiting viewing centers and health centers/dispensaries as well as receiving information from schools/adult centers.The dominant channels/sources used in disseminating information to rural dwellers were mainly printed materials, posters and fliers, as well as other audio/visual facilities. The major challenges faced by rural dwellers in seeking information from public libraries were the centralization of the library services at the
local government headquarters, absence of library services and Community Information Resource Centers in the rural communities. The study recommends that the libraries should be adequately funded to provide all the needed library and resources, facilities and services. There should be a framework for policy review regarding the provision of the library services
in rural areas. Other challenges identified included language barrier, lack of qualified library personnel and lack of basic infrastructural facilities in rural communities, as well as economic constraints among rural dwellers. The study also recommends a new approach that can be used to provide effective public library services to meet the information needs of the rural
dwellers
Measuring and communicating the value of special libraries in KwaZulu-Natal provincial government departments, Pietermaritzburg.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study examined the various methods used to measure and communicate the value of special libraries in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government departments (PGDs), Pietermaritzburg. The main purpose was to measure the value of special libraries (SLs) in PGDs and communicate this value to management to advocate their need for redevelopment. In terms of literature to demonstrate the value of SLs, there is a paucity of research that explores this problem, especially in the South African context in which the study was based. The models that underpinned this research were strategic measurement, service quality (SERVQUAL), library quality (LibQUAL), and total quality management (TQM) models. The study adopted the pragmatic paradigm and applied a convergent parallel design through a mixed-methods approach. A sample of 369 employees was drawn from a population of 7,866. In addition, six information professionals (IPs) and six heads of departments (HODs) were purposively chosen as participants in the research. Online questionnaires were used to collect data from library users while interview schedules were used to conduct online interviews with the four IPs and the four HODs who participated. To ensure the reliability and validity of the research instruments, pre-tests were conducted with employees who did not form part of the sample. Computer software, that is, SPSS and NVivo, was used to analyze descriptive statistics and thematic content from the findings. The major findings of the study reveal that there was significant awareness of the existence of the SL in the departments; however, the libraries are not being utilized regularly. The lack of library utilization may be due to the quality of the library being below the expected measures by users and below the zone of tolerance as per the desired-minimum (D-M) standard. However, there was a positive gap between service quality expectations and perceptions, which indicated that users expectations were surpassed. Most SLs in government departments are operating with an outdated library policy or framework. Furthermore, there was a lack of methods used to measure and communicate library value to management. According to library users and librarians, not enough attention was paid by management to the development of the library. Conversely, management confirmed the importance of having an effective library and that there is a budget allocated for the libraries in their departments. While there was a significant awareness of the importance of SPLs in PGDs, the lack of an adequate budget to develop these libraries makes them less effective in helping to achieve organizational goals. Some of the libraries under study were found to be strategically aligned to organizational goals. However, there were no methods used by IPs to measure the value of SLs and there was a lack of communication channels to convey the value of SLs to management. The study also established that various aspects of the library and its service affect how users determine the quality of the library. The functions of SLs are diverse based on the objectives of the parent organization. The roles of IPs in a special library involve determining the various methods that support the organization and its employees by enhancing information access. The study concluded that the value of SLs in PGDs is visible; however, the lack of support from management in the development of these libraries hinders the ability of IPs to showcase the significance of these libraries to the organization. The study recommended that SLs in PGDs adopt and implement the proposed strategic framework for measuring and communicating the value of these libraries. Lastly, suggestions for further research were provided such as the need for further research under the same topic conducted with employees from the regional offices of these departments to get their perspectives on the significance of having a library that is only situated at their head offices.Abstract only available in English in PDF document
Availability and utilisation of information resources by academic librarians for job performance enhancement in selected university libraries in North-Central Nigeria.
Get PDFDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The study examined availability and utilisation of information resources by academic librarians
for job performance enhancement in selected university libraries in North-Central Nigeria. Five research questions and four hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Task-Technology Fit were the theoretical frameworks underpinning the study. Research questions were matched to the theories while post-positivism research paradigm with survey research design was employed. The extant literature reviewed showed that job performance of academic librarians in African university libraries, particularly Nigerian university libraries was low, when compared with that of their counterparts from the developed parts of the world. The literature also revealed that little or no attention has been paid to examine the importance of information resources use in achieving academic librarians' job performance. The study used explanatory design as a choice of mixed method research. Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from the academic librarians from seven selected universities in the north-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The data arising from the study were analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0). For the research questions, descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation) were employed to describe the variables and their occurrences among the respondents. Inferential statistics were used to test the hypotheses. The qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results of the evaluation contributed immensely to enhancing the researcher’s confidence in the reliability of the instruments and the data emanating from such procedures. The ethical aspect of this study was achieved by adhering to the ethical protocol of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The reliability coefficient of the instrument was computed using Cronbach’s alpha (α) through a pre-test reliability method. A Cronbach’s alpha (α) value of r = 0.876 was obtained. The total enumeration technique was thereafter used to select academic librarians in the seven selected federal universities in the north-central region of Nigeria. One hundred and twenty-eight (128) copies of a questionnaire were administered across the seven university libraries. Out of this total, 103 copies were duly completed and returned for quantitative analysis, giving a response rate of 81%. However, a response rate of 100% was achieved for the qualitative data. In addition, the census method was used, in line with Israel (1992). Copies of the survey questionnaire were used mainly to collect quantitative data from the academic librarians, while interviews were used to collect qualitative data from university librarians (heads of library).
The findings indicated that 90% of the respondents noted that there is high availability of information resources for their job performance. A relationship between level of information resources utilisation and academic librarians job performance was established in the selected university libraries at (β= 0.591; p0.05). Theoretically, the study contributed to validating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Task-Technology Fit. The need for university libraries to sustain awareness among library staff on the importance of engaging in the use of cataloguing services for effective job performance, maintenance of acquisition policy on selection of print and non-print information resources, provision of regular electricity supply, improved Internet connectivity, attendance of periodic ICT-based training and improved library budgetary allocation were recommended as strategies for effective job performance among the academic librarians in the selected university libraries in North-central, Nigeria
Migrated archives: time for closure to turn the wheels of reconciliation and healing for Africa
Get PDFIn a paper on migrated archives, Nathan Mnjama puts forward several reasons as to why these archives are in the custody of our former colonisers. Infrastructural challenges, the lack of the development of archival services and security issues are some of the reasons highlighted. Consequently, these archives were not collected and preserved within colonies and were thus repatriated to the metropolitan countries for safe storage. The removal of these archives have created gaps in archival holdings and these archives need to be located, retrieved and brought home, so he argues. The author of this response proposes that we need to start afresh and forget about this genre of archives in view of the protracted issues involved and considering the archival service challenges that most archival institutions are facing. We are now talking about de-colonisation/refiguring or Africanisation of our archives because there is over-documentation of the colonial record in our repositories and these records are often biased or incorrect
Recordkeeping for good governance in Tanzanian public universities.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Recordkeeping is a key feature of any institution's corporate governance and is critical to its
transparency and accountability. Public universities cannot operate without records because
they provide the foundation for sound decision-making. Without records, it would be
impossible to hold public universities accountable. Records in an institution help identify what
has been done and how it was done. In other words, records serve as tools for creating trust
through time and across societies. Therefore, an organization's lack of sound recordkeeping
practices hinders good governance. Although recordkeeping is crucial, it is becoming a
challenge in enhancing good governance in universities. The prevalence of poor recordkeeping
practices in African universities raises doubts about how top management and administrators
have been making informed decisions. There is a need to create awareness of the importance
of recordkeeping in universities. University records should be properly maintained and secured.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case in most African academic institutions, including
Tanzania. Therefore, this study investigated the role of recordkeeping in promoting good
governance in Tanzanian public universities. The overall objective of this study was to
investigate recordkeeping for good governance in Tanzanian public universities. To achieve
this objective, the present study sought to answer the following research questions: What
systems and processes are used in recordkeeping in Tanzanian public universities? What
recordkeeping skills and training do staff need in Tanzanian public universities? What is the
role of records legislation in recordkeeping in Tanzanian public universities? What is the level
of security and confidentiality control in recordkeeping in Tanzanian public universities? What
interventions required to be put in place in order to address recordkeeping in Tanzania public
universities?
The population of this study was drawn from eight (8) Tanzanian public universities, namely
Ardhi University, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Moshi Cooperative
University, Mzumbe University, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology,
the Open University of Tanzania, Sokoine University of Agriculture and University of Dar es
Salaam. Purposive sampling was used to select these eight public universities. The study
targeted a population of 105. Given that the population of this study is considered small, the
study used a census sampling technique where all members of the population were included in
the study. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Questionnaires were
administered to 89 records officers. To get in-depth information, a purposive sampling method was employed thereafter to select respondents from the study population for them to be
interviewed. Sixteen senior officials were targeted for interviews. The records continuum
model and the Information Governance Reference Model underpinned the study. A pragmatic
paradigm using Mixed Methods Research with a bias towards a quantitative dominant was
adopted, complemented by a qualitative follow-up. The questionnaire was used to collect
quantitative data, while the interview schedule was used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative
data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23, while qualitative
data was analyzed using NVivo software version 11.
The findings revealed that the level of digital recordkeeping in the surveyed public universities
was below standard. The issue of funding for recordkeeping featured prominently; the budget
allocated for recordkeeping activities was limited. This limited budget was prohibitive in
managing records in all the universities. Recordkeeping activities such as records appraisal,
storage, and access were found to be insufficient in all the universities. The study established
that the university's recordkeeping laws still needed to be fully implemented. The present study
also found that a shortage of recordkeeping space/storage was one of the challenges facing
universities. The study findings revealed that universities faced numerous risk exposures
concerning recordkeeping. They included pest infection, rodents, computer system failure, fire,
unauthorized intrusion, water damage and theft.
The study recommends that Tanzanian public universities follow the proposed framework steps
when managing their records from creation. The proposed framework addresses the challenges
elaborated in this study and, if appropriately implemented, will help Tanzanian public
universities perform recordkeeping effectively
Readiness for knowledge management implementation : the case of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Public Works in Pietermaritzburg.
Get PDFMaster of Information Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2018.A knowledge management (KM) readiness assessment is essential before implementing a KM initiative within an organization. The KwaZulu–Natal Department of Public Works (KZN DPW) Head Office (HO) in Pietermaritzburg was chosen as the case study. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which the KZN DPW demonstrates readiness to implement KM through the assessment of KM enablers present within its components. This study’s objectives were to investigate if there is awareness of KM within the Department; determine whether the Departmental culture supports KM practices; examine the Departmental structure influence towards KM implementation; assess the Departmental strategic plan towards the promotion of KM implementation; and explore the communication tools and human resources available for effective KM within the Department. The study contributed to the need to implement KM initiative across governmental departments, both at provincial and at national level. Additionally, the study also contributed to the body of knowledge and literature on KM, especially in the context of KwaZulu-Natal.
The socialization, externalization, combination and internalization (SECI) model underpinned the study to conceptualize the influence of the dynamic process of knowledge conversion to organizational efficiency towards service delivery. The mixed method approach was used, where both the qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted, with latter predominant. The targeted population consisted of 81 respondents from KZN DPW HO with particular interest on four sections namely: strategic management; human resources; information technology; and monitoring and evaluation. Quantitative data was collected from seventy-seven respondents, which consisted of employees from junior to deputy director level; qualitative data was collected from four Directors of each section. A census of the study population was taken; data for both approaches was collected simultaneously. For qualitative approach, structured interviews were conducted, consisting of standardized, open-ended questions; and for quantitative approach, survey questionnaires consisting of closed questions were distributed. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) and qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data were done separately.
The findings of the study revealed that the KZN DPW is practising KM informally and there is high level of awareness for KM. The preservation and sharing of knowledge through computer files or folders was identified as one of the practices commonly used to manage knowledge within the Department. It was unclear whether the Departmental culture will be favourable towards the implementation of KM initiative since there was lack of common perspective regarding this matter. The findings also showed that the KZN DPW’ structure is hierarchical in nature, which will be problematic for the success of the KM initiative if implemented as KM requires a less rigid structure. The Department’s strategic plan does promote the management of knowledge as it encourages employees to create and preserve knowledge for better service delivery; however, there is a deficiency in terms of ensuring that a formal initiative to achieve this is implemented.
The findings also revealed that there are basic communication tools available within the Department though the ICTs required for an effective KM initiative still need to be acquired. It was also revealed that a KM unit as well as the Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) does not exist within the KZN DPW, which impacts negatively on the success of KM initiative due to the absence of personnel or unit dedicated to oversee its progress when implemented. This study therefore concluded that the KZN DPW holds certain features required for an effective KM and is ready to implement a KM initiative. However, as some of the key issues such as KM enablers are not yet conducive towards the success of the initiative, the Department will need to improve them further before the formal implementation of KM.
Recommendations to help the KZN DPW to be effectively ready to implement KM initiative included increasing awareness of KM across the entire Department; developing further all KM enablers and establishing a KM directorate managed by a CKO. Furthermore, incorporating the formal implementation of a KM initiative in the Department’s strategic plan and in the employees’ personal development plan (PDP), conducting exit interviews when employees leave the Department and review these interviews regularly, implementing formally a KM initiative was also recommended. Suggested areas of research included conducting the same study with other KZN provincial departments and private organizations to determine their readiness to implement KM and to compare findings. A knowledge audit within KZN DPW before implementing KM initiative was suggested as another area of study as well as a further study to determine the effectiveness of the initiative after being implemented
Information and communication technology skills on knowledge sharing among librarians in federal university libraries in South-West, Nigeria.
Get PDFDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in PDF
Faith-based collections at African Enterprise: a case study of the Michael Cassidy collection.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study investigated the management of African Enterprise's (AE) faith-based collections and Michael Cassidy's (MC) personal papers. It explored the scarcity of literature on faith-based organisations as well as looked into challenges experienced by AE in managing and preserving its collections. It tackled issues of privacy, copyright, and ethical issues in private papers. The collection of data was conducted through semi-structured interviews and was analysed inductively.
Moreover, this study revealed that the AE building is not suitable for the preservation of archival materials. The National Archives et al (2010) recommended then that repositories of faith-based collections should ensure that personal papers survive from other religious traditions where individuals do keep material of a personal nature without there being any obvious long-term homes for them. It is therefore incumbent as noted by Choi and Nilson (2019), that archivists and religious leaders should develop strategies on how to preserve these hidden and endangered materials and make them accessible when needed. As AE does not have standard systems in place to effectively manage archival collections, it therefore found AE to not have a system guarding the privacy, legal, and ethical matters that affect access to and use of Cassidy's personal papers. There are no resources in existence to guide the identification of sensitive materials. It also revealed his wish to have his private papers to be housed at AE. In addition, this study then made recommendations for a purpose-built archive building and the development of policies. It also advocated for further research on faith-based collections to contribute to scholarship
Marketing to enhance the use of information resources and quality of services in medical libraries of public universities in North-West Nigeria.
Get PDFDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in PDF
A framework for digital archiving at selected public universities in Kenya.
Get PDFDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietemaritzburg.Archival records are knowledge assets that preserve the overall historical scholarship,
memory and identity of organisations and institutions of higher learning. The rapid
transformations witnessed on the digital landscape today have led to the increased
generation of digital records, prompting the growing interest by universities to adopt
sustainable digital archiving implementations to ensure the continued access of
archives. This research investigated digital archives management practices in selected
public universities in Kenya. The objective of the study was to develop a digital
archiving framework for the archival repositories at the institutions. To achieve this
objective, the study sought to answer five research questions which were: what is the
state of digital archiving readiness of public universities in Kenya? How are digital
archives identified and administered in Kenyan public universities? Which legal and
regulatory frameworks govern digital archives management in Kenyan public
universities? Which risk factors are digital archives exposed to in these universities?
What possible solutions can be adopted to mitigate the identified risks and support
sustainable digital archiving implementations in Kenyan public universities? The
study subscribed to the pragmatic school of thought which formed the basis for
adopting a mixed methods approach that prompted the use of qualitative and
quantitative methodologies, with a qualitative priority. The study was underpinned by
the records continuum (RC) model, Open Archival Information System (OAIS)
Reference model and the Archives and Records Management Association (ARMA)
Records Management Maturity model which were triangulated to coin a conceptual
framework for the study. The study adopted a multiple-case (embedded) design using
cross-sectional survey. Six universities were purposively selected from 23 fully
accredited public universities in Kenya namely: the University of Nairobi, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Moi, Kenyatta, Maseno and
Egerton Universities. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 205
respondents comprising of deputy vice-chancellors, finance officers, legal officers,
ICT directors, archivists, records managers, records officers, ICT staff and
administrative staff. Questionnaires were administered to 169 respondents; 36
participants were targeted for interviews, and document review was used to confirm
the data. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS) and presented using inferential and descriptive statistics. Qualitative
data was analysed thematically using NVivo and presented using charts, graphs and
tables as applicable. The key findings suggested that public universities in Kenya
have not attained the desired optimal state of readiness for digital archiving. This was
evidenced by the absence of functional archival repositories in five of the universities,
insufficient harnessing of the available ICTs for d-archiving, inadequate skilled and
competent staff, low prioritization for the education and training of recordkeeping
staff and absence of dedicated budgets for records and archives management
functions in the institutions. Furthermore, there were no formal processes guiding the
lifecycle management of digital records and the generated metadata. The situation was
exacerbated by weak and/or non-existent legal and regulatory frameworks for
recordkeeping at national and institutional levels. Subsequently, digital records were
exposed to risks at various stages of their lifecycle which included records technology
risks, legal and regulatory risks, administrative risks and records control risks. The
risks further occasioned a cocktail of challenges that called for urgent interventions.
The overall conclusion of the study was that even though the institutions have instigated various approaches and strategies to mitigate the identified risks, a lot needed to be done to improve the state of digital archives management in the
universities. Taking into consideration the study findings, this research recommends a
framework for digital archiving that brings into perspective a collaborative approach,
whose core focus is to enhance d-archiving practices in archival repositories of
collaborating institutions
- …
