African academic libraries partnering with Wikimedia projects: Values and benefits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adaora C. Obuezie ◽  
Millie N. Horsfall
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Reliable Information ◽  
Institutional Repository ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
The World ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The Rich

Wikimedia as a foundation is the mother of all Wikis. “It supports hundreds of people around the world in creating the largest free knowledge projects in history” (Wikimedia foundation, https://wikimediafoundation.org). Its resources give benefits that can emerge from the collaboration of librarians and Wikimedia. However, despite the rich contents and vast availability of information on Wikimedia, many scholars refute the credibility of Wikimedia contents. This chapter addresses the benefits and values of African academic libraries partnering with Wikimedia projects and gives a brief definition on the concepts of Wikimedia and Wikipedia. How academic libraries directly improve Wikimedia resources for a reliable information; particularly, it highlights the need to rightly posit librarians as custodians of knowledge, relating the campaigns of 1Lib1Ref and other related projects where librarians in Africa through the African Library and Information Associations and Institution (AfLIA) collaborated with Wikipedia to add reliable sources, edit articles, and write stories to promote the quality, authority, and reliability of intellectual contents in Wikipedia. It demonstrates the engagement of academic libraries in the development of information resources to aid access to information for all citizens through linking of institutional repository materials to wiki articles in line with the UNESCO policy of ensuring public access to information (UNESCO, 2017). It also discusses challenges associated with the use of Wikimedia resources in some institutions and draws conclusion that Wikipedia promotes discoverability of library resources, librarians improve the reliability of its contents as an important tool to leverage on, in pursuit of academic endeavors, thus providing an interception between Wikipedia and academic libraries.

scholarly journals Does open access make cents? Return on investment in the institutional repository

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Ellen Dubinsky
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Institutional Repository ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Library Service ◽  
Delivery Format ◽  
Online Availability

Access to information resources is a traditional library service. Public libraries were the first to provide unfettered access to print information resources to a general population. It is not a stretch to recognize those institutions as the earliest providers of open access (OA). Now the term open access is generally defined as the free and immediate online availability of research and scholarship, adapting to the widespread change in delivery format from print to digital. OA as a library service—most commonly in support of the scholarly communication process—has become a priority for most academic libraries. Academic libraries and librarians are increasingly engaged in both providing and promoting OA, primarily through institutional repository (IR) services with roles as creators, disseminators, publishers, and preservers of scholarly content.

scholarly journals INFORMATION AND LIBRARY RESOURCES ON ISSUES OF PEDAGOGY AND EDUCATION (ON THE MATERIALS OF LIBRARY SITES OF UNIVERSITIES OF GERMANY)

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-102
Author(s):  
Nataliya Kropocheva
Keyword(s):  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Pedagogical Issues ◽  
Information Flows ◽  
Circuit Structure ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Qualitative Characteristics

The Results of the information review of the materials of the Websites of the Libraries of German Universities are presented. A sample of eleven libraries was formed, the selection criteria for which were the following indicators: The Universality of the acquisition of the fund; the presence in the structure of information resources of collections of rare, handwritten and old printed publications; participation in the network of library institutions located on campuses (libraries), library funds are completed with documents of a narrow-specialized direction. The practical problems of creating Information and library resources on education and pedagogy are highlighted; the defining components of the content and composition of the sites of these libraries are described. The Directions of formation of resources of the researched segment of libraries of universities with single - circuit and double – circuit structure are revealed and generalized. In universities of the first type, libraries perform the functions of the central and peripheral library structure, as a rule, information and library resources on pedagogy and education are exported from OPAC (Online public access Catalog) and KVK (Karlsruher Virtuelle Katalog). In universities with a two-circuit structure of libraries, the site presents resources for educational and pedagogical purposes, in library departments, resources of specialized direction are reflected. The qualitative characteristics of the portals of educational and pedagogical issues, placed on the basis of the DBIS information System, are given. features of the formed information resources on the basis of various information sources, according to needs of users, minimizing information overload by optional («superfluous») information flows are revealed. The directions of content formation, prospects of development of the portal «Pädagogik» are covered.

Marketing academic library information services using social media

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 228-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suha AlAwadhi ◽  
Sultan M. Al-Daihani
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Use Of Social Media

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the use of social media in the marketing of academic library resources and services in Kuwait and identifies the factors related to the use of social media applications in marketing academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative data-collection approach using a paper and online questionnaire has been employed to elicit the opinions of librarians working in academic libraries in Kuwait in both private and public institutions. In total, 89 valid questionnaires have been analyzed using descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (factor analysis, correlations, experimental analysis and regression).FindingsThe study shows that the academic librarians have a positive perception toward the use of social media. The identified factors relating to the use of social media for marketing library information resources and services are the usefulness of social media tools in raising awareness and in providing needs analysis and satisfaction assessments. However, management support for the use of social media for library marketing is poor.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights into the factors related to the use of modern social media platforms to promote information resources and services at academic libraries to provide outreach services to current and potential users.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the field of information studies as it highlights the importance of using social media platforms in marketing academic library information resources and services. Library administrators could use the results to develop social media marketing plans to effectively promote their library resources.

Users of ICT at Public Access Centers

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Gomez ◽  
Kemly Camacho
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Gender

Libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés offer opportunities for wider public access to information and communication technologies (ICT). This paper presents findings of a global exploratory study on the landscape public access venues in 25 countries around the world. The goal of the project was to better understand the users of public access venues and their needs, this being one of several papers that result from the global study. This paper identifies profiles of the users of the different types of venues with respect to age, income, education and gender. While findings are not new, their value lies in the compelling evidence drawn from 25 countries and across different types of public access venues, which has never been done before. Results highlight the importance of strengthening public access venues in non-urban settings and to strengthen programs that reach out to underserved populations. The authors also point to special challenges faced by libraries and telecenters given the immense growth of cybercafés as public access venues in most of the countries studied.

Building an institutional repository: the case of University of Ilorin, Library, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
George Osas Eromosele
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Remote Access ◽  
Detailed Account ◽  
Institutional Repository ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
The University ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
The Way

Purpose An institutional repository has become a new way of making the intellectual outputs of academic and research institutions electronically accessible in the online public domain. The outcome has led to users gaining remote access to varieties of digitized information that is hitherto locally resident before digitization in hardcopy form in the various information centre and libraries without users’ restrictions. This initiative has helped to enhance the open access inventiveness. Nigeria libraries are therefore taking up the challenge of computerizing their libraries and some have taken some steps to source the requisite funds to digitize and archive their library resources for easier Web-based access. Consequent upon this development, the University of Ilorin, embarked on digitization of its local contents such as Convocation Ceremonies; Government Publications; and Staff Publications and Theses and Dissertations, and making these local resources available online. This paper attempts to give a detailed account, step-by-step procedures and the various challenges faced in the process of building its online institutional repository and the way forward. The report in this paper gives insight into academic libraries intention to digitize their library resources, on the best way to go about it and also to avoid unnecessary hurdles. Design/methodology/approach To provide a thorough breakdown of the building of institutional repositories in the University of Ilorin, Library, webliography sources were consulted. Findings Some areas in service provisions need to improve upon, and these areas are search engine optimization by subscribing to handle.net, integration of Google analytics to check performance, sitemap features and highly secured (SSL and public key encryption. Originality/value This paper attempts to give a detailed account, step-by-step procedures and the various challenges faced in the process of building its online institutional repository and the way forward. The report in this paper gives insight into academic libraries intention to digitize their library resources, on the best way to go about it and also to avoid unnecessary hurdles.

Availability and Accessibility of Information Resources in an Academic Library: Pathway to Sustainable Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 8-11
Author(s):  
Kolawole L. Folasade
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Research Assistant ◽  
Power Failure ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

This study was carried out to determine how availability and accessibility could bring about sustainable development in perceived academic performance of polytechnics’ students using Ibadan Polytechnic as a case study. Survey design was used with structured questionnaire and observation as instruments for data collection. The questionnaire was administered with the aid of a research assistant. From the findings, it was revealed that textbooks and dictionaries were readily available in the library while electronic books and journals were not accessible. The study also revealed lack of enough electronic resources, lack of enough computers to access Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) and power failure as some of the challenges to availability and accessibility of library resources. Some recommendations were made based on the findings.

Awareness and Use of Library Resources by the PG Students of Private Universities in Bangalore City: A Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
Kavita Biradar ◽  
K. G. Jayarama Naik
Keyword(s):  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Bangalore City ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Print Books ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The primary aim of academic libraries is to fulfil the information needs of their user’s community. The present study intention is to know the extent of use of library resources by the PG students of Private Universities in Bangalore city. Further study has been stressed on the level awareness about various information sources as well problems faced while accessing those resources are identified. For this purpose the researcher prepared a structured questionnaire and distributed to 120 respondents and received back 100 questionnaires with the response rate being 83.33%. The study findings reveals that the still the PG Students are preferred to access print books for their study and reference and at the same time they are well aware of various information resources available their respective libraries.

Access to Information and Medicines Regulation in New Zealand

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 549
Author(s):  
Amy Hill
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Significant Issue ◽  
The World ◽  
Medicines Regulation

This article explores a significant issue in the regulatory regime for medicines in New Zealand and around the world: the deficit of information about medicines available to doctors, patients and independent researchers. In New Zealand, while some generic (off-patent) drugs are manufactured domestically, the major suppliers are large multinational companies. Similarly, clinical trials to establish a drug's effectiveness, safety and quality are predominantly undertaken overseas. Much of the information about safety, efficacy and quality of drugs is held and controlled by pharmaceutical companies and regulators. This article proposes ways in which public access to information about medicines can be improved.

scholarly journals The convenience of nonprobability: Survey strategies for small academic libraries

2009 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 412-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Skowronek ◽  
Larry Duerr
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
World View ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
The World

Recent research on how college students use libraries has raised some interesting questions for academic librarians. Data from the report “College Students’ Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership” illuminates how college students from around the world view libraries and what they want from libraries. Asked to increasingly justify their relevance on campus, academic libraries need to decide what services and resources to offer to students, both in person and virtually. Librarians face choices of providing students with what they want and what librarians and faculty think they need. The OCLC report drives home the . . .

TETFund intervention in the provision of library resources in academic libraries in Nigeria

IFLA Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 034003522095801
Author(s):  
Cajetan Onyeneke ◽  
Ihunanya Lovelyn Ahaneku
Keyword(s):  
Survey Research ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
Research Instrument ◽  
High Extent ◽  
Imo State ◽  
Library Resources ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Library Staff

This study investigated the intervention of TETFund in the provision of library resources in academic libraries in Imo State, Nigeria. It was guided by four research questions and three null hypotheses. The study adopted a survey research design with a questionnaire as the research instrument. The population of the study was 105 professional and para-professional library staff at two universities in Imo State. The findings show that TETFund intervenes to a high extent in the provision of information resources at the two universities studied. The study recommends that concerned government ministries should monitor the activities of TETFund to ensure that universities benefit equally, and that TETFund should be mandated to make the processes simpler. The researchers also recommend that TETFund organize conferences to educate institutions on the need and processes to access funding and benefit from TETFund.

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