East African School of Library and Information Science (EASLIS) Collection

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Browsing East African School of Library and Information Science (EASLIS) Collection by Subject "Academic libraries"
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    Adoption of social media for scholarly use in Bishop Stuart University Mbarara, Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2024-09) Madia, Begire
    The 21st century has been an era of remarkable advances that have revolutionized the world in ways that the previous generations could not imagine. The emergence of the information age has been a critical driver of this transformation, ushering in the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions (4IR and 5IR), which have brought about unprecedented levels of innovation and progress. The advancements in academic libraries have displayed notable progress, particularly in connection with social media's influence, and this has generated significant interest in its adoption and utilization. The research analyzed how academic libraries use social media tools to promote scholarly engagement among users, using Bishop Stuart University Library as a case study. The objectives were to identify the social media tools used, assess their impact on supporting scholarly activities, identify challenges, and propose measures to enhance social media utilization across academic libraries in Uganda. The study employed a mixed methods research design, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to capture participants' experiences utilizing social media tools for academic endeavors. The target population comprised 9,183 individuals, including 368 registered library users intended for the quantitative segment and 5 librarians contributing to the qualitative aspect. Data was gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and observation techniques. The findings unveiled that BSUL adopted social media tools for scholarly purposes, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Blogs, for activities such as disseminating information to users, providing reference services, sending reminders, and utilizing WhatsApp for current awareness services and instant communication with users and lecturers. It was also discovered that library users had subscribed to various social media tools including YouTube, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and LinkedIn for purposes such as knowledge sharing, research, social interaction, and communication with librarians, among other uses. Furthermore, both librarians and library users encountered various challenges when incorporating social media for scholarly purposes. Librarians highlighted key challenges such as unstable power supply, hesitance towards social media usage, scarcity of social media-trained librarians, absence of social media policies, staff shortages, and insufficient computers with unreliable internet connections. Library users also mentioned obstacles like financial constraints, electricity supply issues, university policies, lack of smartphones and laptops, slow internet, limited computers with consistent internet access, absence of social media-trained librarians, and inadequate awareness about social media tools. Drawing from these findings, the study proposed recommendations to enhance the integration and utilization of social media at BSUL, including defining specific purposes for social media tools, implementing policies to regulate their usage, and enhancing user services.
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    Change management in academic libraries: a case of Kyambogo University Library
    (Makerere University, 2023-08) Acen, Enid
    Academic libraries are not immune to the rapid advancements in technology, changes in user needs, as well as the need to adapt to changes for effective library services. The study examined change management in academic libraries with reference to Kyambogo University Library. The objectives were to; explore the changes and how they are managed at KYU Library; examine the factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of change at KYU Library; investigate the techniques used in change management at KYU Library; and examine the setbacks (if any) to change management at KYU Library. A case study research design and a qualitative research approach were adopted. The KYU Librarians were the target study population. The study also employed Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and face-to-face interviews methods of data collection, while the instruments were the FGDs guide and an unstructured interview schedule. The study collected qualitative data, which were analyzed thematically based on the themes developed from the research questions. The findings revealed that various changes have been managed at KYU Library over time such as; the merger of the former institutional libraries to form KYU Library, infrastructural changes, the developments in print and electronic resources, technological advancements, and the automation of the traditional card catalogues into Open Public Access Catalogue. The acceptance of changes were based on; the presence and use of the library strategic plan, adoption of technological advancements, availability of funds to support changes, staff training and continuous professional development, and presence of management support, as well as a positive experience with the previous changes. However, resistance of changes were influenced by; lack of policies on change management, lack of funds to support changes, lack of staff training, technophobia, and a negative experience with the previous changes. In addition, various hindrances were reported in regard to change management at KYU Library, such as; a lack of library change management policy, lack of change management plan, lack of funds to support changes, technophobia by some library staff, delayed procurement processes, and limited Internet coverage. The study recommended the development of a library change management policy; establishment Library change management plan; Training of staff on ICTs; lobbying for more funding; improvement of internet coverage on compass and ensuring timely procurement process.
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    Digitalisation of library services at Igad Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (Istvs), Somaliland
    (Makerere University, 2023-09) Kireeba, Amuza
    The aim of the study was to improve library services at IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS) through digitalisation. The objectives of the study were to; identify library services provided at ISTVS, establish the enabling environment for digitalisation at ISTVS library, identify the challenges encountered during digitalisation of library services at ISTVS and proposed strategies to strengthen digitalisation of library services at ISTVS. The study used a descriptive case study research design while adopting a mixed research approach. 31 library users were conveniently selected and 2 library staff were selected by census to participate in the study respectively. Questionnaires, interviews and observation were used to collect data. The researcher used a questionnaire, interview and observation methods to collect data on the digitalisation of library services at ISTVS. The population of the study comprised of the students and staff of ISTVS. The sample size of 33 respondents clustered as (staff -11 and students -22) was used in the study, with a response rate of 100% which was judged useful for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed low levels of information literacy, lack of motivation, limited training of library users, insufficient ICT infrastructure, poor internet facilities, information overload and inadequate funding as inhibitors to successful digitalisation library services at ISTVS. The study recommends the following: the institution’s leadership needs to appreciate the diverse inhibitors of digitalisation for provision of library services and map out strategies to deal with this problem; the designers of the library information access systems should enhance perceived usefulness either by adding additional functional capabilities to the system, or by making it easier to invoke the functions that are already in existence; that those in charge of developing access packages and systems should try to make the navigation and design layout easily understandable and less challenging to use; and lastly, academic institutions should put in place policies and regulations to encourage digitalisation and implementation of these strategies. The findings further indicated that lack of skills in digital technology is a major challenge in the digitalisation of library services. It was also clear that providing a roadmap for digitalisation of library services requires a strategy for copyright protection, preservation policy, and publicity and awareness of the digitalised information services.
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    A framework for stocktaking in academic libraries: a case of three selected university libraries in Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2020-08) Mwebe, Maria Nankya
    A study was carried out to identify needs for stocktaking, to appraise its processes and practices, to examine the challenges faced during stocktaking and thereafter develop a framework that might guide stocktaking activities in university libraries. Three university libraries were selected namely, Makerere University Library, Uganda Christian University Library and Nkumba University Library. It was necessary since in MakLib, the exercise was not done regularly and was not comprehensive. There was absence of stocktaking reports at NUL, and UCUL only assists the Facilities office to carry out the exercise. The purpose of the study was to generate a stocktaking framework that might be used to ease, regulate and guide regular and comprehensive stocktaking in academic university libraries. A sample of 29 library staff was purposively selected and the study used a case study design. The methods used for collecting data were the questionnaire for quantitative data and document analysis, focus group discussion (FGDs) and observation for qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that the university libraries view stocktaking as a library management activity that provides information on the state of the collections and gives a true picture of the collection status since it, identifies what should be added to or withdrawn from the collection and what has been lost or stolen. In addition it ensures proper, efficient and effective book loans management, enables correction of both the catalog and collection anomalies and helps to account for library resources by providing figures for accountability, annual library reporting. It therefore contributes to service delivery of the libraries using the stocktaking facilities, application of stocktaking methods and information technology and practices for frequency, schedules, responsibility, report writing, strategies to curb book losses and doing minor book repairs. The major challenges during the stocktaking exercise in the three libraries included absence of a policy, lack of updated accession registers and catalogues, inadequate time to cover all collections and massive stock size. Minimal administrative support leading to low funding, poor facilitation, exclusion of ICTs, poor records keeping and management, book safety and losses, insufficient staff that lack motivation, skills, morale and team spirit. Lastly, the study proposed a Framework as a guide that might set realistic steps for effective and comprehensive stocktaking in academic libraries.
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    Marketing library services in academic libraries : case of Uganda Christian University Library
    (Makerere University, 2020-08-07) Nabitotto, Sharon Alice
    In this research, the author sought to explore marketing of library services in academic libraries; a case study of Uganda Christian University. The study aimed at finding out the existing library services offered, current trends of marketing library services, challenges faced in marketing library services and strategies that could be adopted in marketing library services at UCU library. The researcher employed a case study research design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative research approach. Data was collected using four methods including questionnaire, interview, observation and document review. Library staff and users were purposively and randomly selected. The findings revealed that the services offered by UCU Library were; reading room facilities, reference and research assistance services, lending services, referral services, reprographic services, interlibrary loan services, internet, and readers’ advisory services. Among the current trends used in marketing library services include current awareness services, orientation of users, users’ training in e-resources access, exhibitions, brochures, flyers, notice boards, community worship, community mail and library website. Challenges faced in marketing library services which among others included lack of adequate financial resources, low bandwidth, poor communication skills, no teamwork, lack of good ICT knowledge, lack marketing skills, unstable power cuts, attitude change from analog to digital, inadequate library staff, lack of a library public relations officer, over-centralization of power, work overload, limited time for borrowing and training. Strategies for improving marketing of library were: Establishing users’ needs, practicing self-discipline, being friendly, working closely with lecturers, organizing library books exhibitions on a semester basis and solutions were provided to library and Users related challenges which included: Increase on library staff, training library staff and users on the use of ICTS, communicating well, good teamwork, directly involve students in marketing the library, users be trained on the usage of the library facilities, programme more hours for borrowing and training users, employ public relations officer, increase the bandwidth, alternatives for unstable power supply, use of social media platforms, involving clients in library activities, more computers, encouraging users to attend orientation, changing the current training programme, need for customer care trainings, periodical job rotation, and many more. The study recommended UCU library to develop and implement a marketing plan, train library staff new marketing techniques, employ a public relations officer, involve students, add more computers, periodical job rotation, increase on budget, handle clients professionally, encourage feedback, delegation of power, offer equal opportunities and regular trainings.
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    The utilization of eBooks in Medical Sciences’ Graduate Programmes in Makerere University: The case of students of Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine and Masters of Veterinary Preventive Medicine
    (Makerere University, 2018-11) Ojulong, Andrew
    This study was conducted in Makerere University to examine the Utilization of eBooks in Medical Sciences’ Graduate Programmes. The case study was the Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine and the Masters of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. The study sought to investigate the accessibility, environment, perceptions and use of eBooks. While academic libraries spent huge amounts on subscriptions, there were limited studies on usage and therefore not enough information on value for money on e-resources subscription. The researcher adopted a case study design using a qualitative approach and purposive sampling technique to select the sample for the study. The methods for data collection included interviews, document review and observation. The study established that eBooks were available at Makerere University and graduate students especially those from the medical programmes were utilizing e-resources; students were mainly motivated to utilize eBooks because of the need for current information required by medical students; postgraduates used eBooks because they were convenient to access. Factors affecting ready access were established and included: unreliable Internet, power failure, limited access devices, and inadequate training and virus infections. The study concluded that postgraduate medical students regularly utilized eBooks to satisfy their information needs especially those from Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine. The study recommended continuous investments in eBooks platforms to encourage continuous utilization; enforce internal internet usage controls in order to improve internet service quality; provide loanable e-reading devices and invest more on power backup technologies based on the framework to optimize utilization.