Factors Influencing the Use of Digital Libraries in Distance Education in Ghana

Libri ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Owusu-Ansah ◽  
Antonio Rodrigues ◽  
Thomas Van Der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
General Information ◽  
Distance Learners ◽  
Academic Tasks ◽  
Library Use ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The University

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which individual factors such as academic tasks, preference for print sources and information skills influence distance learners’ use of digital libraries in a teacher distance education programme at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. The population of the study consisted of 1,834 distance students and from a sample size of 641 distance learners spread across three distance study centers, namely, Winneba (247), Kumasi (276) and Asante-Mampong (118). A total of 453 (70.67 percent) distance learners, selected randomly, completed a 31-item questionnaire. In addition, 30 distance education tutors, four coordinators and four librarians were purposively selected to participate in the study. The findings showed that academic tasks of distance learners did not require them to use digital library resources, which resulted in low or no academic use of digital libraries. The findings also pointed to a high preference for print resources among distance learners which resulted in the low use of digital library resources. Finally, it was noted that even though most of the distance learners possessed basic ICT skills, this did not result in their of use of digital library resources. To improve digital library use in distance education, it is recommended that academic librarians seek and foster collaboration in teaching information literacy and library instruction in distance education, an approach which must be backed by a policy that mandates the use of (digital) library scholarly resources in teaching and learning in distance education. It is also recommended that the Centre for Distance Education and the University Library collaborate to offer training programmes in specific digital resources and general information literacy courses for all distance education stakeholders in the university to boost digital library use.

scholarly journals The Usage of Web 2.0 as a Media Promotion in Indonesia University Libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Nove E. Variant Anna
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
General Information ◽  
Library Services ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Research Population ◽  
The University ◽  
The Web

The usage of web 2.0 has become popular among young people in Indonesia. One of the purpose of using web 2.0 is for promotion in some university libraries. The emerging of the web 2.0 as promotional media is corelating with the development of digital library. The paper aims are (1) to describe the usage of web 2.0 for academic libraries promotion. (2) to describe the information / content of those web 2.0. (3) to describe the promotion activity through web 2.0. This research population is all university libraries in Indonesia, but only 40 university librraries that conduct promotion through web 2.0. The website observation is done between May-July 2013. The research results are (1) the university libraries in Indonesia are use facebook, twitter, and flikr to promote library programs and interaction with users. The web 2.0 consist of information about new book release, user education, general information about library services, and information literacy. (3) some of univerity libraries taking seriously and actively promote their library services, but some of them are don’t use the web 2.0.

scholarly journals The Usage of Web 2.0 as a Media Promotion in Indonesia University Libraries

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Nove E. Variant Anna
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
General Information ◽  
Library Services ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Research Population ◽  
The University ◽  
The Web

The usage of web 2.0 has become popular among young people in Indonesia. One of the purpose of using web 2.0 is for promotion in some university libraries. The emerging of the web 2.0 as promotional media is corelating with the development of digital library. The paper aims are (1) to describe the usage of web 2.0 for academic libraries promotion. (2) to describe the information / content of those web 2.0. (3) to describe the promotion activity through web 2.0. This research population is all university libraries in Indonesia, but only 40 university libraries that conduct promotion through web 2.0. The website observation is done between May-July 2013. The research results are (1) the university libraries in Indonesia are use facebook, twitter, and flicker to promote library programs and interaction with users. The web 2.0 consist of information about new book release, user education, general information about library services, and information literacy. (3) some of univerity libraries taking seriously and actively promote their library services, but some of them are don’t use the web 2.0.

scholarly journals Provision and Awareness of Digital Library Resources in a Multi-Mode University: Perspectives of Distance Learners and Librarians.

2020 ◽  
pp. 53-76
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER M. OWUSU-ANSAH
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Distance Learners ◽  
Reference Services ◽  
Digital Reference ◽  
Digital Reference Services ◽  
Digital Contents ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Multi Mode

The purpose of the study was to explore the extent to which digital library provision affects awareness and use of digital contents, digital reference services, and information literacy among stakeholders in distance education at a large multi-mode public teacher education university in Ghana. The study makes use of the concurrent mixed-method design. The population of the study was 1,834 distance students with a sample size of 641 distance learners reading programmes in Basic Education in three distance education Centres of the University of Education, Winneba namely Winneba (247), Kumasi (276) and Asante-Mampong (118). A total of 453 (70.67 percent) distance learners, selected randomly, completed a 31-item questionnaire. Also, the population consisted of four librarians from three Campuses in the vicinity of the Centres. A combination of probability and non-probability sampling methods were used for this study. The study found that awareness and use of digital library resources in the three distance education Centres were very low, if not non-existent. The findings revealed that for all the three main classes of digital library resources and services; digital contents, digital reference services and educative services, provision was very poor or non-existent for the distance learning community. This negatively impacted awareness and use of these resources. Among others, the study recommends a regular collaborative needs assessment of distance learners; establishment of dedicated library services for distance education; and the development of embedded library services which can appreciably raise the visibility of digital library resources in distance education. Keywords: Digital library provision; distance learning community; awareness; multi-mode; academic libraries in Ghana.

Ciência da Informação e Humanidades Digitais

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANCISCO CARLOS PALETTA
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Digital Humanities ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Digital Age ◽  
Web Of Data ◽  
The University ◽  
The Web

This work aims to presents partial results on the research project conducted at the Observatory of the Labor Market in Information and Documentation, School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo on Information Science and Digital Humanities. Discusses Digital Humanities and informational literacy. Highlights the evolution of the Web, the digital library and its connections with Digital Humanities. Reflects on the challenges of the Digital Humanities transdisciplinarity and its connections with the Information Science. This is an exploratory study, mainly due to the current and emergence of the theme and the incipient bibliography existing both in Brazil and abroad.Keywords: Digital Humanities; Information Science; Transcisciplinrity; Information Literacy; Web of Data; Digital Age.

Evaluation of the accessibility of archival cartographic documents in digital libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1062-1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Kuzma ◽  
Albina Moscicka
Keyword(s):  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Goals ◽  
Metadata Record ◽  
Archival Documents ◽  
Access To Data ◽  
The University ◽  
The Way

Purpose This paper aims to present the authors’ attempts to evaluate the access to archival maps available in digital libraries. Its aim was to pinpoint the factors determining the effectiveness of access to old maps and to evaluate which Polish libraries provide resources in such a way as to give the users the best chance of finding the materials necessary for their research. Design/methodology/approach The presented research focussed on archival documents from academic libraries accessible from the Polish Digital Libraries Federation and available from Europeana Collections. The evaluation criteria were established along with features that determine the level of difficulty of access to data describing archival documents. The research took into account the way of recording the data about archival documents in metadata. The authors have also analysed the quantity of available resources and the consistency of metadata record. Findings The results of the research have demonstrated that one-third of the analysed libraries deserve a positive evaluation. The digital library of the Warsaw University and the Jagiellonian Digital Library received the best scores in terms of the description of archival documents. Considering the number of resources, the Jagiellonian Digital Library and the Digital Library of the University of Wrocław are positively distinguished. Originality/value The method of evaluating the access to archival maps has been developed. The criteria and features necessary for this evaluation and the way of their interpretation have also been defined. The future goals leading to the improvement of the access to the archival maps have been also presented.

scholarly journals PERAN PERPUSTAKAAN DIGITAL DALAM MENCIPTAKAN RUANG PUBLIK (STUDI KASUS PERPUSTAKAAN DIGITAL UNIVERSITAS LAMPUNG)

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Atin Istiarni ◽  
Endah Kurniasari
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Shared Commitment ◽  
The University

The purpose of this study is to find out how the information age community understands digital public space and how the role of the University of Lampung's digital library in creating virtual public spaces. This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods. This research builds on the critical theory of public space proposed by Jurgen Habermas and Henry Lefebvre. Data collection through literature study and interviews. Data analysis includes three stages namely data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion or verification. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the public space in the information society is interpreted as a space where there is an infinite process of interaction. The role of the University of Lampung's digital library in creating public spaces includes (1) Providing freedom of access to systems and content, (2) giving freedom of expression to users through communication facilities between users and managers (3) Providing equality for anyone to access and utilize digital library applications The University of Lampung (4) has a legal umbrella in managing digital libraries (5) has a shared commitment to turn the University of Lampung's digital library into an ideal public space. Keywords: Digital Library, Public Spaces, Information Society. 

scholarly journals Online Education at Voronezh State University

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Chupandina ◽  
A. V. Semenikhina
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
General Information ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Open Education ◽  
State University ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The University

The article describes the state of online learning at Voronezh State University and presents general information about its main components, such as e- library resources, electronic system for education process management, and  the university’s online courses. Since 2001 the University is a participant of  the scientific and technological program “Creation of the open education  system in the Russian Federation”. Within the framework of this program an  informational and educational portal Voronezh. OpeNet.ru − “Voronezh  virtual university” has been established, which is a part of the mega-portal of the Russian informational and educational environment of open education  (www.OpeNet.ru). In 2007 the University has started the work for  implementation of network education based on LMS Moodle. Online education is being realized on three levels: e-library resources,  organization of educational process (“Electronic University”), and online  courses (distant courses, university online courses, and open online courses).  Distant courses include 59 courses on ecology and learning  foreign languages worked out in the framework of Tempus project. At  present Voronezh State University is developing its own open online courses  (MOOC) using the experience of Tomsk State University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. The implementation of online learning makes it  possible to realize two main principles of modern education − “education for  everybody” and “lifelong education”. 

Proximity and choice of College of Distance Education (CoDE) of the University of Cape Coast for further studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1012-1034
Author(s):  
Moses Segbenya ◽  
George Kwaku Toku Oduro ◽  
Fred Peniana ◽  
Kwesi Ghansah
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Distance Learners ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electronic Learning ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Study Centre ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the proximity of study centres to the students of College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast (CoDE/UCC) and whether further studies of distance learners who were teachers and employees could lead to absenteeism in their workplaces. Design/methodology/approach A sequential explanatory strategy was used. A self-administered questionnaire and unstructured interviews as well as observation guides were employed to collect data from 2,077 students pursuing business and education programmes of CoDE in all study centres across Ghana. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and pattern matching of content analysis. Findings The study found that few teachers and other workers pursuing the distance education do absent themselves from the workplace or classroom on Fridays preceding their face-to-face session because they embarked on their journey to the study centres on Friday morning. Some teachers also absented themselves from work on Mondays after face-to-face sessions for a lack of means of transport on Sunday after lessons. The absenteeism of these respondents directly and indirectly affected their employers, students and customers. Practical implications It was therefore recommended that management of CoDE/UCC should open more study centres in all the regions especially Western, Ashanti, Upper East, Northern and Upper West Regions to reduce number of hours spent by students to their study centres and consider introducing the business programmes at the existing district centres to reduce average distance covered by these students to commute from their places of work to their respective centres in the regional capitals. It was also recommended that online/electronic learning and audio versions (impersonal communication) of the study modules should be introduced so that students would not necessary have to travel to the study centre to participate in lectures/face-to-face sessions. Originality/value The findings of this study will help managers and administrators of both public and private distance educational providers. In addition to providing basis and areas for establishing study centres for geographical proximity, findings of the study should prove helpful for designing and delivering electronic and audio versions of distance education modules to reduce the level of absenteeism in workplace for the students.

Information-Seeking Behaviour of Users in the Digital Libraries' Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa

2016 ◽  
pp. 26-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Ondari-Okemwa
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Digital Library ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Digital Formats

This chapter addresses the issue of information-seeking behaviour of users in the digital libraries' environment in sub-Saharan Africa. Information-seeking behaviour may be shaped by the environment in which users seek information. A digital library is still relatively new in sub-Saharan Africa and there is not much known about how the digital library environment may shape the information-seeking behaviour and/or information needs of users. The chapter explores the concept of digital libraries and the nature of the collections and services of digital libraries in comparison to traditional libraries. The chapter also discusses what a library is, the services provided by libraries, and the differences between a traditional library and a digital library. Covered in the chapter also is a brief history of digital libraries. Digital literacy as a factor which may shape the information-seeking behavior of users in a digital library environment is also discussed in the chapter. Information literacy has changed drastically. The digital information literacy that may play a role in socio-economic development in sub-Saharan Africa is no longer the literacy defined as the ability to read and write at a basic level and sign a document. As society is moving from information age to digital age, new definitions of digital information literacy are evolving which include how to access information in digital formats, and how to evaluate information and use it appropriately. Digital information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning and is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments and to all levels of education. In sub-Saharan Africa, levels of digital information literacy are low due to numerous factors which are also explored in this chapter. Development of digital information literacy in sub-Saharan Africa has been slow compared to the development of information and communication technologies in the region. The chapter discusses the extent to which low levels of digital literacy in sub-Saharan Africa may also be responsible for shaping information-seeking behaviour of users in a digital library environment. The chapter concludes that the major differences between the two types of libraries are mainly to do with technology, rather than a fundamental change in the way libraries operate. This is because digital libraries are still libraries which largely share the same objectives and purposes of the traditional libraries.

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