Trainees in the library and information profession in Africa depend on textbooks emanating from outside Africa because of the dearth of local books. Even supposedly local books…
Abstract
Trainees in the library and information profession in Africa depend on textbooks emanating from outside Africa because of the dearth of local books. Even supposedly local books are generally patterned along Western lines and they are either descriptive or historical, so none of them can really be used as a basic textbook for any of the courses offered in library/ information science schools. This has greatly affected the training of library and information professionals in Africa as trainees are exposed to literature that is largely suited to situations outside their immediate environments. Several factors have been identified as being responsible for inadequate tertiary publications in the information profession in Africa. In order to improve tertiary publishing, the paper recommends that authors should embark on team authorship, international funding agencies and national governments should commission textbooks that are appropriate for the African setting, and also national library and information associations should be innovative by vigorously looking for sponsors who will publish manuscripts they have adjudged to have met international standards and at the same time relevant to the African setting.
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A lot of studies on grey literature abound in the literature. Most of the studies, however, relate to disciplines other than LlS. This study determines the focus and trends of…
Abstract
A lot of studies on grey literature abound in the literature. Most of the studies, however, relate to disciplines other than LlS. This study determines the focus and trends of grey literature publications. Other objectives include determining the proportion of grey literature published that focuses on national, regional and global issues, identifying the various formats of grey literature prevalent in LIS, and the major sources used by information professionals in publishing their grey literature research.
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There are increasing numbers of experiments (in countries as diverse as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Benin, Senegal, Botswana and Zimbabwe) with informal community information services…
Abstract
There are increasing numbers of experiments (in countries as diverse as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Benin, Senegal, Botswana and Zimbabwe) with informal community information services dealing with health, hygiene, child care, cultivation, stock‐rearing, trades, crafts and repair work, in the way in which surveys show that citizens require. Conventionally published material is in very short supply and seldom has relevant content. Extension services, and sometimes libraries, in local communities make use of such materials as are available, whether printed in leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, poster or flipchart form, or deliver information orally, on tape, filmstrip, or in the form of song, story or dramatic presentation. Preliminary investigations show that the mechanisms for obtaining appropriate information to repackage for this type of use, and the capacity to carry out the repackaging exercise, are poorly developed in most of Africa. The official publications, reports, planning and policy documents from non‐governmental organisations, development agencies, aid and charitable organisations and research centres, which contain this information, are poorly represented in the holdings of national library systems, research collections or government agencies. Equally significantly, such institutions are not oriented in the dynamic way required to permit an effective repackaging exercise. There are, however, a few examples of appropriate arrangements for the acquisition, repackaging and distribution process which are cited as partial models of the way this work might be done.
Reports a survey of 86 organisations which have a strong information component, in Botswana, with the objective of determining the types of information‐related activities they…
Abstract
Reports a survey of 86 organisations which have a strong information component, in Botswana, with the objective of determining the types of information‐related activities they perform. The study also aimed to ascertain the possibility of employing librarians trained at the University of Botswana. The findings revealed that a number of the organisations’ information‐related activities could be handled by librarians; however, the organisations seem to prefer computer scientists, information scientists and accountants. The study concluded that the department should revamp the curriculum in such a way that it will enable the products to function effectively in these organisations.
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A comparative analysis of the characteristics of rejected manuscripts submitted for publication to the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science and manuscripts…
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A comparative analysis of the characteristics of rejected manuscripts submitted for publication to the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science and manuscripts accepted for publication over a five year period was carried out. The study reveals that 145 manuscripts were rejected as opposed to eighty papers accepted for publication. The findings reveal that there were no remarkable differences with regards to status and affiliations between the authors of rejected and accepted papers. While information technology, archives, user studies, academic libraries and bibliometrics constituted the topics of papers mostly rejected, papers accepted were mainly in the areas of archives, information service, information technology and rural information. Most of the papers were rejected because they contributed nothing new to knowledge (65.5 per cent), used unreliable data (13.1 per cent) and lacked focus (13.1 per cent). Datedness of references was not used in rejecting papers because the editorial board policy is to update references of papers accepted for publication where necessary. The paper recommends the need for training institutions in Africa to strengthen the research and writing skills component of their curricula, as well as the regular scheduling of research and writing skills workshops by information organisations in the region.
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Bharat Mehra and Joseph Winberry
This chapter explores “politic talks” (also known as political information) on the websites of academic libraries in land-grant state universities of the South in the context of a…
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This chapter explores “politic talks” (also known as political information) on the websites of academic libraries in land-grant state universities of the South in the context of a global retreat of democracy that emerged during former President Trump’s regime as the 45th President of the United States. The exploratory qualitative evaluation applies website content analysis of seven information offerings in three categories that include: (1) information sources (collections, resources), information policy and planning (assigned role, strategic representation), and connections (internal, external, news and events). Promising practices and illustrative examples of “politic talks” representation on academic library websites show how they are serving as significant providers of political information during current politically turbulent times. The discussion of these findings in relation to each state’s voting likelihood based on trends since 2000 has significant political implications in enhancing the role of academic libraries moving forward.
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Olatunde R. Adeniran, Thomas A. Adigun, Mathew I. Okoh and O.T. Eyitayo
A study was conducted to find out the types of CD products in Nigerian libraries and information centres, and the uses to which they are being put. The study also tried to find…
Abstract
A study was conducted to find out the types of CD products in Nigerian libraries and information centres, and the uses to which they are being put. The study also tried to find out the sources of funding of such products, information about users, hardware configuration, and training facilities available in the country. Of the 157 questionnaires sent out, 85 usable returns (a 54% response rate) were received. The analysis revealed that 44 libraries had at least one PC with only nine of such centres having at least one CDROM workstation. There are 62 copies of 43 CD titles in Nigeria. Information on the discs is classified as bibliographic, full text, statistical, or general information. The subjects they cover in descending numeric order are agriculture, general reference, medicine, science and technology, social sciences, and education. Areas of applications include information retrieval, bibliographic compilations, current awareness services, library acquisition work, and downloading and uploading to local online databases. In general, CD use was minimal in most libraries as opposed to information centres where CD applications were well used by patrons, especially where the mass media was employed to advertise them. Most libraries funded their CD projects with their local budgets. The most frequently used computers are IBM or compatibles. Recommendations are also outlined.
This study investigates how university libraries in Nigeria are staffed and presents staff development opportunities and learning activities that sustain staff.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates how university libraries in Nigeria are staffed and presents staff development opportunities and learning activities that sustain staff.
Methodology/approach
A survey research design was adopted. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 46 universities and 400 respondents consisting of 46 heads of libraries and 354 professionals from federal, state, and private universities. Content of the instrument was based on literature comprising six questions. The 327 (92.4%) usable responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in simple frequency tables.
Findings
The study showed that library workforce in Nigerian universities included different categories of professionals and para-professionals having diversified job opportunities and duties. Most libraries had staff development budget and respondents received various forms of assistance to foster learning. Although all nontransferable skills recorded high mean, respondents accorded less importance to nonlibrary personal skills that can be used to leverage the expectations of recruitment, retention, and sustainability.
Research implications
The study was limited to practicing professionals but has staffing implications for all libraries across Nigeria.
Practical implications
Many professionals may lack the appropriate multi-skills that would enhance exploring new approaches and breaking out of traditional ways of operation in the different library and outside library settings.
Originality/value
The study contributes to knowledge about sustaining library staff in relation to adopting the recommended skills on a broad scale, and assessing how their acquisition can change the perception of professionals to its immense contributions to sustaining them in the workforce.
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Esharenana E. Adomi, Monday O. Ogbomo and O.E. Inoni
Focuses on crop farmers’ access to agricultural information in rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Data were gathered by questionnaire from ten villages. Farmers of both genders…
Abstract
Focuses on crop farmers’ access to agricultural information in rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. Data were gathered by questionnaire from ten villages. Farmers of both genders experienced obstacles to information use, although findings revealed that there were also differences between male and female crop farmers with respect to their information needs and sources of agricultural information. Female crop farmers experienced greater problems in accessing agricultural information. However, the major information problems suffered by farmers are not gender‐specific problems. Concludes with recommendations to enhance all crop farmers’ access to agricultural information.
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The challenges facing the information worker in Africa are multifariousconsidering the fact that the users of information in Africa are themost heterogeneous in the world, ranging…
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The challenges facing the information worker in Africa are multifarious considering the fact that the users of information in Africa are the most heterogeneous in the world, ranging from the starkly illiterate to the most educated elite. In this situation, the curricula of information training institutions in Africa should reflect this reality. Unfortunately, the curricula of library and information science schools in Africa are geared towards the educated elites, as there is hardly any difference between the curricula of information training schools in Africa and the industrialized world, yet the situation in each setting is different. While the majority of Africans are rural people who are illiterate and mainly employed in farming and other unskilled jobs, the majority of the users of information in the industrialized world are literate. The services offered by information workers in Africa do not relate to the information demands of the African setting and do not take account of the fact that every individual, whether literate or illiterate, needs information. Recommends that information training institutions in Africa evolve curricula that will be mission oriented, geared towards meeting the information demands of farmers, artisans, grassroots politicians, the electorate, government decision makers, students, researchers and others. Recommends a conference of trainers, providers and users of information to fashion out an appropriate curriculum for African needs.