scholarly journals The legal implications of providing information services in PUL in Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-37
Author(s):  
Salome Waigumo Mathangani ◽  
Japheth Otike
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public University ◽  
Information Services ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Legal Implications ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Teaching Learning

This is a research paper on Public University Libraries (PULs) which are charged with the responsibility of providing the university community with information for the parent institutions’ core activities of teaching, learning, study and research. In carrying out this responsibility, PULs have to address issues of law as these relate to the provision of information services. The purpose of this study was to investigate the legal implications of providing information services in public university libraries in Kenya. The study applied the qualitative methodology but also used a limited application of quantitative approach with issues of statistical significance. Basing on a sample of 77 librarians from public universities libraries, data was collected and analyzed using the narrative method. The study established the actual and potential implications of laws that support information (UDHR, CK, FOI, IFLA and WSIS declarations) and those that put limits to information (Copyright law, penal code, Official Secrets Act). Although librarians were knowledgeable and had skills regarding their work, evidence from the study showed that they needed to extend their knowledge and understanding in the area of laws that have implications on the provision of information as a way of enhancing their work. In conclusion the paper notes that there is scope for librarians, using their wealth of knowledge and expertise, to seek interaction with policy makers and make relevant and useful contribution on law and information. These findings are significant in that they give general direction with regard to law and the provision of information services. The research highlights the importance for librarians to create links with policy makers in order to set up a relationship with mutual benefits.

Copyright and information service provision in public university libraries in Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 375-388
Author(s):  
Salome W. Mathangani ◽  
Japheth Otike
Keyword(s):  
Organization Theory ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Information Service ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Public University ◽  
Copyright Law ◽  
Information Services ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Copyright law supposedly brings a balance between copyright owners and information users as a way of creating a harmonious relationship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between Kenya’s Copyright Act and the provision of information services in public university libraries in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach The study was informed by both the organization theory and the social systems theory which, respectively, provided a base for discussion on the library and its basic functions, and an interdisciplinary approach that accommodate library services and law. Data were collected from a sample of 77 librarians from public universities libraries, and analyzed using the qualitative method. Findings The study established that librarians were reasonably aware of the copyright Act. However, they were apprehensive and uncertain about copyright effect on the library. Evidence from the study showed that librarians needed to extend their knowledge and understanding of the copyright law for the effective provision of information services. The paper concludes that there is scope for librarians, using their wealth of knowledge and expertise, to make relevant and useful suggestions on copyright. Such contribution would assist in bringing harmony in the use of copyrighted materials. Originality/value These findings are original and will be useful in giving general direction on copyright. The study highlights the important issue of universities as parent institutions providing needed leadership in the copyright area.

eReadiness of public university libraries in Malawi to use mobile phones in the provision of library and information services

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aubrey Harvey Chaputula ◽  
Stephen Mutula
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Public University ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Access To Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present findings of a study conducted to determine eReadiness status of public university libraries in Malawi to use mobile phones in the provision of library and information services.Design/methodology/approachThe researcher carried out in-depth semi-structured interviews with university/college librarians and information and communications technology (ICT) directors using interview guides. Students were also administered with a survey questionnaire that contained closed- and some open-ended questions. Proceedings of the interviews were recorded using a tape recorder whilst backup notes were recorded in a notebook. Qualitative data were transcribed and analysed using NVivo software whilst quantitative data were analysed using SPPS.FindingsThe study findings revealed that institutions studied had the ICT infrastructure necessary for offering library and information services on the mobile phone platform. Moreover, students had mobile phones which were connected to internet to facilitate their access to services offered. However, the institutions covered by this study did not have operational ICT policies to govern the operations of library and information services offered through mobile phones although draft ICT policies were available. The study further concluded that though the human resources required to manage the provision of library and information services through mobile phones in the institutions studied were available, they did not have the necessary skills and numbers to provide quality services. Other findings revealed that attitudes of library staff and students to the offering and access to services through mobile phones were positive. The study also revealed that there are some factors that could impact the offering of library services through mobile phones.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough Malawi has four public universities, this study only focused on three of them. Moreover, academic staff is another important user group of academic libraries. In this case, findings reported in this paper only focus on students. This implies that library’s readiness to offer services through mobile phones to this group remains unknown hence may have to be covered by future studies. Much as the study incorporated a quantitative strand in addition to the qualitative one, it neither involved theory testing nor confirmation as is the case with other related studies. This implies that the two theories used in this study (the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and the technology-organisation-environment) were not used in the strict sense, which is empirical at the core, but rather to put the problem studied in the context of other related studies.Practical implicationsThe findings have practical implications in that they can be used for planning the implementation of library and information services through mobile phones in public university libraries in Malawi. Other related institutions can also use the findings as a reference point in planning the implementation of similar services.Originality/valueStudies relating to the use of mobile phones in the delivery of library and information services have not been conducted in public universities in Malawi. Findings of this study will, therefore, inform researchers intending to conduct similar or related studies not only in public universities in Malawi but other related institutions as well.

FUNDRAISING AS A SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN KENYA

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-148
Author(s):  
Festus Kipkorir Ngetich ◽  
Daniel C. Rotich ◽  
Japheth Otike
Keyword(s):  
Public Universities ◽  
Public University ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University

The aim of this paper is to examine fundraising as a viable supplementary source of funding for public university libraries in Kenya. Ideally, university libraries require sufficient funding in order to effectively play their role which is to support teaching, learning and research activities in the university. However inadequate allocation of funding to public university libraries in Kenya over the years has negatively affected the quality of their services. Therefore there is an urgent need for these libraries to consider fundraising as a source of funding. Using a sample comprising of 84 Librarians and 18 informants from seven public universities in Kenya, this paper established that fundraising, if well planned and coordinated, is a viable supplementary source of funding for public university libraries in Kenya. 

scholarly journals La Biblioteca de la Universidad Pública de Navarra, hoy

2020 ◽  
pp. 1213-1228
Author(s):  
Belen Altuna Esteibar
Keyword(s):  
Public University ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Research Needs ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
The Public ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
User Centered

RESUMEN Se da cuenta de las formas de gestionar los servicios bibliotecarios en la Biblioteca de la Universidad Pública de Navarra. Se ponen de manifiesto la evolución de los servicios en los 25 años de su creación. Se hace hincapié en los retos y oportunidades que en este momento tienen las bibliotecas universitarias. Se aborda el desarrollo y transformación de los servicios, siempre muy vinculados a las necesidades de la Universidad, tanto en docencia, como en aprendizaje e investigación y en un modelo centrado en los usuarios. LABURPENA Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoaren liburutegiko zerbitzuak zertan datzan adierazten da. 25 urtetan zehar, liburutegiaren sorreratik zerbitzuek izan dituzten aldaketak nabarmentzen da. Gaur egun, unibertsitate liburutegiek dituzten erronka eta aukerak azpimarratzen da. Zerbitzuen garapen eta eraldaketari ekiten zaio, Unibertsitatearen beharrei lotuta, irakaskuntzan zein ikaskuntzan eta ikerkuntzan ere, eta oro har erabiltzaileen zentratutako ereduan. ABSTRACT We give an account of how we address library services in the Library of the Public University of Navarra. We bring to light the evolution of such services in the 25 years since it was created. We highlight the challenges and opportunities that university libraries face nowadays. We review the development and transformation of the services which are tightly linked to the University’s teaching, learning and research needs, and which are based on a user-centered model.

Access to and Use of Information and Communication Technology and Task Performance

Mousaion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuraola J. Oyedipe ◽  
Sunday O. Popoola
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Joint Effect ◽  
Public University ◽  
Relative Effect ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Job Knowledge ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Task

The study investigated the relationship between access to and use of information and communication technology and task performances of library personnel in public university libraries in South West Nigeria. The total enumeration technique was used to cover 330 library professionals working in public university libraries in the zone. A self-developed questionnaire was used to obtain data. Out of the 330 copies of questionnaire administered 248 (76.6%) copies were found useable. The findings revealed that the level of task performances of the respondents was high, and the level of access to ICT was high, while the frequency of ICT use was moderate. The results indicated that there was a positive relative effect of ICT access and use on task performances. The study also found a significant relationship between the access to ICT, ICT use and task performances of respondents, while there was a significant joint effect of access to ICT and ICT use on the task performances of library personnel. The study recommended the constant development of personnel regarding job knowledge and skills, the promotion of creativity and adaptability skills to enhance personnel task performances, while library managers should continue to make ICT tools accessible for library personnel to allow their use in improving the workflow in the library.

The awakening information needs of the developing countries

1979 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 285-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjorn V. Tell
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Information Network ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Online Systems ◽  
The Awakening ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Centres Of Excellence

The developing countries arc emulating the industrialized countries when setting up information services to cater for their information needs. However, the traditional infrastruc ture of service organisations may not be the best model for supporting easy and speedy access to information. A different approach is argued, founded upon the enthusiasm with which many developing countries have taken to online systems when demonstrated there. A model for a ministerial information network is proposed as part of a "social intel ligence function" of the country. It is proposed that Unesco and UNIDO should set up regional "centres of excellence" according to this model for developing countries.

scholarly journals Projections of runoff in the Vistula and the Odra river basins with the help of the SWAT model

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Piniewski ◽  
Mateusz Szcześniak ◽  
Shaochun Huang ◽  
Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Odra River ◽  
Assess Climate Change ◽  
Rcp 8.5 ◽  
Model Set ◽  
Seasonal Runoff ◽  
Set Up

Abstract The objective of this paper is to assess climate change impacts on spatiotemporal changes in annual and seasonal runoff and its components in the basins of two large European rivers, the Vistula and the Odra, for future horizons. This study makes use of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, set up at high resolution, and driven by a multi-model ensemble (MME) of nine bias-corrected EURO-CORDEX simulations under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 4.5 and 8.5. This paper presents a wealth of illustrative material referring to the annual and seasonal runoff (R) in the reference period as well as projections for the future (MME mean change), with explicit illustration of the multi-model spread based on the agreement between models and statistical significance of change according to each model. Annual R increases are dominating, regardless of RCP and future horizon. The magnitude of the MME mean of spatially averaged increase varies between 15.8% (RCP 4.5, near future) and 41.6% (RCP 8.5, far future). The seasonal patterns show the highest increase in winter and the lowest in spring, whereas the spatial patterns show the highest increase in the inner, lowland part, and the lowest in the southern mountainous part of the basin.

Research on user needs for mobile information services in Chinese university libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Shengli Deng ◽  
Ting Gao ◽  
Ruoxin Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Mobile Services ◽  
Information Services ◽  
User Needs ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Information ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Mobile Information Services

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the service demand of existing users and potential users for mobile information services provided by university libraries in China. The primary objective is to explore the impact of user experience on user needs, which is conducted by a comparison between two user groups over their needs from three aspects – service function, service mode and information content. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 353 library users from ten Chinese universities via questionnaires. Based on the user needs model, three dimensions of user needs were established for mobile information services and 26 measurement items were generated through a review of the literature. Furthermore, based on frequency analysis, independent samples t-test and the calculation of need rate, the demand differences in mobile information services between existing and potential users were explored. Findings Significant differences existed in the needs for service functions and service modes of mobile information services between existing users and potential users. Existing users cared more about such characteristics as intelligence, personalization and the variety of mobile services. Potential users, in contrast, concerned themselves more with the usability of mobile services and similarity to traditional information services. These two user groups showed little difference in the needs for information content, as they both have strict requirements for specialty, richness in and quality of information resources in mobile network environments. Originality/value Previous research on user needs for mobile libraries services has been primarily conducted from the perspectives of existing users. This study, however, compared the needs of existing and potential users based on their previous experiences, which can help libraries to know better what their users need and improve the quality of mobile information services to meet those needs. This can also make existing users more willing to use the services and cultivate the usage habits of potential users at the same time.

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