1,720,961 research outputs found
Collection development in public libraries in Waterberg district, Limpopo province, South Africa
Full text linkText in EnglishCollection development in public libraries is a process of acquiring, managing books
and maintaining the library’s collection such as books, periodicals, audio-visual
materials and digital resources. Collection needs to be regularly updated to meet
multiple information needs of the users. The purpose of this study was to investigate
collection development in Waterberg District, Limpopo province, South Africa. The
study has adopted a qualitative research approach and self-administered
questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The study collected
data from 250 library users from Mogalakwena public libraries. The quantitative
research approach allowed the investigator to distribute the self-administered
questionnaires personally in five public libraries to collect data. A total of 278 library
users were selected through simple random sampling and only 250 respondents
returned the self-administered questionnaires. The findings indicated that the
information sources were accessible to the library users, while the majority (92%) of
the respondents were satisfied with the performance of the librarians. More than a
quarter (80, 32%) of the respondents was satisfied with the information sources.
Additionally, the findings indicated that all (100%) library users requested library
personnel to assist them in accessing the library collection, instead of using the
installed library system. The findings indicated that the majority (72%) of the
respondents had Wi-Fi in the public libraries, most (69.2%) of the respondents had
both internet and computers available in their public libraries. Nearly half (48%) of
the respondents indicated the challenge of no participation in collection development
policy. Fewer than half (42%) of the respondents indicated that their public libraries
contained old information sources that cannot be used to meet their multiple
information needs. The study concluded that recruitment of new library personnel is
needed to help with delivery of the library collection as well as to offer training
workshops on collection development.
The study recommends that the public libraries should be on a hybrid system, adopt
the use of printed and e-sources, and evaluate collection development through
interviews and social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook. Periodical
sources should also be acquired to feed the library users with the current information.M.A. (Information Science)Information Scienc
Usage of library electronic resources by students at North West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa
Full text linkAcademic libraries provide print and electronic resources for their users. Librarians have to market and train their users in how to access electronic resources (e resources). The purpose of this study was to examine the usage of library e-resources by students at the North-West University (NWU) – Vaal Triangle Campus (VTC) (NWU-VTC). To attain this purpose, six objectives were formulated: to find the level of knowledge of students in using e-resources, to understand students’ motives for using e-resources, to identify the particular e-resources used by students, to find out which methods are used by library staff to inform students about the availability of e resources, to pinpoint the issues faced by students when accessing e-resources and to recommend measures to enhance students’ utilisation of e-resources. The target population of the study was students registered at the NWU-VTC for the 2018 academic year. The study used the quantitative research approach and the descriptive survey research design was employed. The study also adopted probability sampling with the simple random sampling technique. The total population of registered students was 7 821. According to the sample size calculator, the sample size for this study was 365. The data were obtained via a questionnaire, and the statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study discovered that most respondents had knowledge of using e-resources and most preferred to use e-resources, as they were easy to browse and navigate. From the findings of the study, it could be seen that the NWU-VTC library users did not use e-resources adequately, as most of the students were inexperienced in using e-resources. The study recommends that, during the orientation of new students, librarians should conduct seminars aimed at training the students to have abilities such as computer and information literacy, information retrieval and digital literacy skills.M.A. Information ScienceInformation Scienc
Transcending existing frontiers to achieve selected sustainable development goals: The role of community libraries in South Africa
Full text linkGlobally, extreme poverty remains an enormous socioeconomic and multifaceted challenge, which has a ripple effect on other factors that affect the quality of life of citizens. Continuing and expanding on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the United Nations (UN) developed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs aimed at improving the livelihood of citizens by entrenching human development particularly in poor and developing countries. This is a conceptual paper based on the document analysis or literature review. The article is aimed at analysing information sources and highlights new frontiers community libraries can play in assisting the general South African public to be aware of the good intentions of the SDGs and to mobilise them to strategically work towards achieving them. As hubs for knowledge economy, community libraries need to transcend their existing frontiers to entrench socioeconomic development and transformation in South Africa to improve quality of life of the citizens
School Library Development Initiatives in a Democratic South Africa: Roles of the Various Stakeholders
Full text linkEquitable resource allocation and provision is critical in all schools including those in the disadvantaged rural communities to improve learner outcomes and the quality of education irrespective of the educational paradigm. With a wide variety of educational resources in a school environment, quality of education and learner achievement can be entrenched and improved. However, the majority of the schools in poor and developing countries are still characterised by an inferior quality education and poor learner outcomes owing to an array of contextual realities and factors – amongst them high poverty levels and lack of adequate educational facilities and resources in schools. The aim of this conceptual article is to highlight the roles various stakeholders can play to advance and champion effective development of libraries in all South African schools in the post-apartheid era. Based on the literature review, the study highlights roles various stakeholders can play to champion and advance effective library development initiatives in all schools. The study recommends that a cohort of distinct stakeholders need to play their roles actively for all schools to have an effective library and information services (LIS) to enable teachers and learners to have equitable access to information for curriculum and non-curriculum related activities
Challenges in establishing and maintaining functional school libraries: Lessons from Limpopo Province, South Africa
Full text linkMost governments, particularly in poor and developing African countries, are hesitant to pledge themselves through a legislated school
library policy to roll out an active and sustainable library and information service for their schools to improve the quality of education.
In South Africa, providing schools with a well-resourced and well-staffed library and information service is even more challenging
because of the inheritance of the apartheid education system prior to 1994. The article is limited to just one part of a research project
which investigated the resource provision in public high schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The purpose of the study was
to investigate challenges that negatively affect the establishment and sustainability of an active and vigorous library and information
service for all schools in Limpopo Province. The study was largely quantitative, blended with triangulation of both quantitative and
qualitative methods for data collection. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data from the principals or
teacher-librarians at schools, while an interview schedule was used to collect qualitative data from education officials through faceto-
face interviews. The findings established that there are daunting challenges which hinder effective establishment and maintenance
of functional school library and information service. The national Department of Basic Education has a responsibility to ensure that
school library policy is formulated, endorsed and implemented as a matter of urgency. The Government should also fast-track rural
development to enable teachers and learners, particularly those in historically disadvantaged rural black communities, to access library
materials in other amenities.Information Scienc
Educational Resources to Under-Resourced Schools in the Limpopo Province: Proposed Library Model
No full textUniversally, the significance of adequately resourced and well-staffed libraries to improve teaching and learning accomplishments in under-resourced schools cannot be overemphasised. In South Africa, resource provision is still a daunting challenge adversely affecting the quality of the results of learners. It is a distressing fact that, even in the post-apartheid South Africa, only a few (7%) schools have well-stocked and functioning libraries. One of the outcomes of this largely quantitative study was to propose a library model that the author hopes can be implemented to offer effective library and information services for schools - particularly in disadvantaged rural communities. Given the way in which the majority of South African schools are distributed in disadvantaged rural communities, the study recommends a cluster school library model that involves a number of schools in a particular circuit office being serviced by one well-equipped stand-alone library (cluster library) under the education library services of the provincial Department of Basic Education
Challenges faced by libraries in a democratic South Africa
Full text link Community libraries are crucial for people to have access to information to satisfy their multiple needs. As custodians of information and knowledge in diverse spheres, they play a role in the socio-economic development of nations. This article attempts to investigate challenges faced by libraries in three different settings in post-apartheid South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative research design. The users, librarians and a well-placed official of the relevant department were interviewed. Convenience sampling was used to select users and librarians while purposive sampling was used to select an official. Face-to-face interviews and observation and a checklist were used to collect data. Senior officials of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture need to study challenges revealed by the findings and to take action to remedy the situation. </jats:p
Academic Librarians’ Perception of Work-Life Balance and Self-Management Skills
No full textThis study focuses on the work-life balance of librarians and considers significant factors that could influence this balance, such as the formulation of policies, workplace support, workload, financial assistance, work expectations and work satisfaction. This research adopted a positivist research paradigm in which a questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection. The survey targeted Kenneth Dike Library of the University of Ibadan, which is the first university library in Nigeria. With 103 members of staff, the sample size was purposively selected. The reliability of the research instrument was tested by using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded an overall reliability value of 0.91. The study revealed the following: (1) Work-life policy documents were not at the disposal of the librarians because they were not implemented and no good programmes that could enrich the work-life balance of librarians exist. (2) Librarians want to receive fair treatment and respect among their colleagues and be recognised when they take the initiative on their job. It is crucial to communicate the policy to librarians, whether it is included in the employee’s handbook or not; it is vital to organise a seminar to alert library staff to the importance of the policy, the benefits it provides, and its implementation procedure
Storytelling Initiatives and Reading in Schools in South Africa: A Case from Limpopo Province
No full textReading is a competency that learners need to acquire from primary school level to enable them to filter through the entire education system. Storytelling is regarded as a teaching resource that literacy teachers can use to stimulate learners to love books, to read and to acquire reading habits and skills. However, in South Africa, it is a stark reality that primary school learners perform poorly in reading, writing and numeracy in comparative and standardised international and national assessments. The lack of exposure to quality reading materials at home and at school has been cited as one of the challenges learners are facing in acquiring reading habits, reading skills and a reading culture. The aim of this study was to investigate storytelling initiatives in primary schools to enhance reading literacy and a culture of reading in learners. To collect in-depth data from 10 Grade 4 or 5 literacy teachers who were selected through purposive sampling, a qualitative research approach was adopted. This approach enabled the researcher to visit literacy teachers physically in 10 primary schools to get first-hand information. Ten primary schools were selected through convenience sampling. The findings indicate that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) encourages storytelling as a weapon to resuscitate and encourage learners to acquire reading skills and to read with confidence in front of their fellow learners from other schools during reading competitions. The study recommends that apart from learning and teaching support materials (LTSM), the DBE needs to procure additional quality reading materials, such as storybooks, including talking books, video games, magazines and newspapers, for distribution to all schools to enable learners to develop reading habits and to inculcate a reading culture in them
Factors influencing the use of e-library resources by postgraduate engineering students at Kyambogo University in Uganda
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the use of e-library resources among postgraduate engineering students at Kyambogo University in Uganda to make suggestions on how to improve access to and use of e-library resources. The study adopted a survey research design to collect data from postgraduate engineering students. Following a census sampling strategy, data was obtained from 58 out of 80 registered postgraduate engineering students using online self-administered questionnaires. The findings revealed that the use of e-library resources by postgraduate engineering students was influenced by ease of use, convenience, level of awareness, and information search skills. However, access restrictions and high internet costs negatively affected e-library resources usage. It is the conclusion of the study that the use of e-library resources was largely influenced by personal factors. This study has implications on e-library resources collection development, policy development, and service delivery in academic libraries. The study bridges the knowledge gap in the use of e-library resources among postgraduate engineering students
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