OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Nassimbeni, Mary"

Browsing by Author "Nassimbeni, Mary"

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Open Access
Adapting the model for information literacy and cultural heritage in Cape Town: investigating user attitudes and preceptions in libraries, museums and archives
(2015) Baker, Kim; Nassimbeni, Mary
Adapting the Model for Information Literacy and Cultural Heritage in Cape Town: investigating user attitudes and perceptions in libraries, museums and archives, by Kim Baker, investigates the attitudes and perceptions of general public adult users of the City of Cape Town public libraries, Iziko Museums of South Africa, and the Western Cape Archives and Records Service in Cape Town towards cultural heritage, information literacy and learning in order to adapt the Model for Information Literacy and Cultural Heritage for Lifelong Learning to the Cape Town context. A generic Model for international use was developed for the book. In formation Literacy and Cultural Heritage: Developing a model for lifelong learning . (Baker, 2013). The adapt at ion of the generic model is a necessary preliminary step before designing courses to teach information literacy and cultural heritage to the general public in a given local context and in an integrated manner, with public libraries, museums and archives collaborating and co - operating to provide the training together. The investigation was conducted by means of survey questionnaires, which applied within-method triangulation of quantitative and qualitative questions, and a combination of Yes/No answers, Likert scale questions and multiple-choice questions. The survey questionnaires included the demographic categories of race, gender, age group, home language, level of education, religion and employment status in order to gain an understanding of the demographic profiles of users necessary to the application of training in cultural heritage to different cultural groups. Questions were grouped into sections, with Section A asking questions pertaining to understandings of cultural heritage, Section B investigating whether users had access to the Internet at home, and if so, how much bandwidth was available to them; Section C explored information seeking and evaluation (information literacy) patterns, and Section D explored learning behaviours and preferences. Section E explored whether users of the public libraries also used museums and archives, why or why not; whether users of the museums used public libraries and archives, and why or why not, and whether users of the Archives used public libraries, and why or why not. At the public libraries, 480 respondents across the branches of Central Library; Athlone; Milnerton; Moses Mahbida; Grassy Park; Bellville; Harare; Somerset West; Brackenfell and Town Centre, Mitchell’s Plain, completed the questionnaires. At Iziko Museums, 220 respondents across the sites of the South African Museum, and the Slave Lodge completed questionnaires. At the Archives , which has only one site, 25 respondents completed the questionnaires. The surveying was conducted using the convenience sampling method. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010, by means of non-parametric, descriptive statistics and presented in graphic format. Following the interpretation of the results, and as a result of this study, recommendations were made for the adapt at ion of the Model of Information Literacy and Cultural Heritage for Lifelong Learning to apply to the context of Cape Town.
Open Access
Adolescents as public library users
(2000) Shaw, Anita Janis; Nassimbeni, Mary
The primary objectives and scope of this research are to examine the library usage behaviour of adolescents, specifically those attending a high school in Grassy Park and those using Grassy Park Library. A central aspect of this research was to identify the types of library needs (curricular and non-curricular) that these two groups might have and how they went about to satisfy these needs. Their library usage patterns and reading behaviour were also investigated.
Open Access
Adult education in South African public libraries: A profile of activities
(2006) Nassimbeni, Mary; May, Bev
This paper reports on the findings of a research investigation into the role of South African public libraries in adult education3. A questionnaire was distributed to 1295 public libraries for the collection of statistical and qualitative information in an attempt to build national and provincial profiles of adult education activities. There was a good response rate of 45.5%. The survey was complemented by site visits to eleven public libraries in order to illuminate the issues facing libraries in this field The results show that most public libraries do not participate at all in any adult education initiatives: 76.9% do not participate while 23.1% do. A profile of activities is presented. A case study of a single anonymous library is presented to provide an opportunity to understand the lived experience of the activities from the perspective of the providers and of the learners. The paper concludes by speculating on the reasons for the low level of engagement in an area that is theoretically espoused by the library community.
Open Access
Adult education in two publica libraries in Cape Town: a case study
(2008) Nassimbeni, Mary; Tandwa, Nobubele
This paper reports the findings of research (Tandwa 2007) into adult literacy programmes offered by two public libraries in Cape Town with a focus on their use of literacy materials. The study is a contribution to the documenting and analysis of the public library's role in the struggle against illiteracy, a serious socio-economic problem in South Africa. Using the case study approach the researcher made an in-depth study of the programme offerings from the perspective of the adult learners, and tried to establish how and whether they made use of literacy materials, since their availability is so important in literacy instruction and the development of a reading habit. The paper describes the programmes and the cohorts of learners and their expectations, and analyses the availability and role of reading materials in the learners' lives. It concludes by identifying the factors required for the successful implementation of a literacy programme in a public library.
Open Access
Alternative models of information provision with special reference to the International Research and Information Group and the Education Resource and Information Project
(1995) Karelse, Cathy-Mae; Nassimbeni, Mary
This study examines the contribution made by two alternative service or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the provision and delivery of information in South Africa. A brief analysis of the role of information in impacting on and/or reproducing social formations is undertaken to provide an understanding of the way in which information has been used in the South African context to repress transformation of the apartheid state. This discussion frames an investigation into ways in which NGOs have attempted to counter information control on the part of the apartheid regime by mediating information to their constituencies. The relationship between information, education and development is addressed, providing insight into the educational role which service organisations play in delivering an information service on the one hand, the information role they perform in providing an education service on the other, and the developmental role they assume in both instances. Particular attention is paid to the way in which these services relate to their users in the process of imparting information to them. In this regard the interface between NGOs and their users is investigated and the very nature of this interaction assessed.
Open Access
An exploration of the current status of information literacy tuition in South African tertiary institutions and proposals for curriculum design
(2003) De Jager, Karin; Nassimbeni, Mary
An investigation was launched at the University of Cape Town (UCT) with the aim of determining measurable competencies in students' information literacy at tertiary level educational institutions. It is increasingly clear that students need both technological skills and information competencies in order to access and employ a wide range of electronic and other information resources. As courses are being developed to inculcate these competencies, it is imperative to generate and incorporate a rationally justified system of standards and benchmarks according to which the outcomes and impact of such interventions may be measured and evaluated in order to ensure continuous improvement. Members of staff at the Centre for Information Literacy at UCT are working towards the establishment of such standards and intend making them available to the information community throughout southern Africa in order that best practice may be shared by all. This paper specifically reports on two exploratory surveys in which firstly, responses were received from ten different information literacy providers from a number that had been identified at the 2001 LIASA conference, and a follow-up survey at the 2002 LIASA conference. It concludes with a suggested approach to obtaining consensus on preliminary standards for information literacy among South African students and a process of evaluation.
Open Access
Assessing the impact of a public library's print collection: a case study of two public libraries in Cape Town
(2018) Skarzynski, Janusz; Nassimbeni, Mary; Kahn, Michelle
The purpose of these case studies was to explore the impact of a public library’s print collection on the community using the library. The motivation for this research is driven by three factors in the South African public library environment. Firstly, the huge investment in library print collections is not currently accounted for in any assessment of library performance, other than expenditure. Secondly, studies of the low levels of literacy and book ownership have established that the public libraries are potentially the only source of reading material for over fifty percent of the population. Thirdly, The Library and Information Services (LIS) Transformation Charter calls for more effective and meaningful performance measurement. The research design for this study was informed by the work of reading theorists. The methodology made use of the GLOs (Generic Learning Outcomes) developed and adopted by the United Kingdom Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as well as research into reading outcomes in public libraries. The study was undertaken within the framework of impact assessment as outlined in the ISO 16439 – Information and documentation – Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries and the work of library assessment specialists, Markless and Streatfield. The research was conducted at two public libraries in two different communities of Cape Town. Questionnaires were distributed to fifty people at each site to collect quantitative data, with follow up interviews conducted with a smaller sample. The focus of the survey and interviews was the leisure reading activities of the participants. The results describe both the patterns of library use and reading behaviour, as well as the impact of using the print collection on the participants. While the results showed that taste in reading differed, in some respects, between communities, the participants all considered reading an important pastime. The reading experiences described by the participants in this study at the two libraries were similar, as were the benefits gained from leisure reading. This study mirrors the results of studies performed in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom. Recommendations from this research are that the impact of the public libraries print collection on users, that primarily make use of the collection for leisure reading, is significant and should be documented as an important outcome of a library’s performance. Public libraries should focus efforts on providing leisure reading material, despite pressure to focus on literacy, skills development, youth programmes and other activities that are considered to produce more tangible outcomes. In order to uncover factors that make reading an activity of choice, further research needs to be conducted into what differentiates the serious leisure readers from those who do not engage in this pastime.
Metadata only
Availability of books as a factor in reading teaching and learning behaviour in twenty disadvantaged primary schools in South Africa
(Stellenbosch University, 2011) Nassimbeni, Mary; Desmond, Snoeks
The purpose of the research project was to investigate the effects of the provision of story books in twenty disadvantaged primary schools in rural South Africa. The recipients of the donation were children in deprived areas, growing up in print-poor environments. The programme theory of the donor organisation, Biblionef, is that access to attractive age-appropriate books will have beneficial effects such as improved literacy skills, the promotion of confidence and improvement in learning. A qualitative approach was adopted to collect data before the intervention, and six months after the book donation, which included a comprehensive training programme in the use of the books. During the site visits, observation schedules were used; also focus groups of both teachers and children. We were able to chart impact in a number of areas such as improved availability and use of books in fifteen of the schools, with respect to both classroom activities and voluntary reading. In five schools there was no appreciable change. We recommend that innovation in teaching approaches associated with the use of books should be accompanied by careful training, and benign monitoring.
Open Access
The effectiveness of teacher librarians in primary schools : the experience of the Melani school libraries in the Eastern Cape
(2007) Mnkeni, Nampombe Pearson; Nassimbeni, Mary
In 2002, a pilot project established school libraries in eleven primary schools in Melani, Fort Beaufort District. The role players in this initiative were South African Partners (an American Non Governmental Organization), the Eastern Cape Department of Education, the University of Fort Hare and the Library and Information Science Association of South Africa (LlASA). Each school nominated one teacher to receive teacher librarianship training to manage and sustain the school libraries. The aim of the project was to develop a model that would lead to the establishment and development of school libraries in other areas of the Eastern Cape. This research project sought to investigate the effectiveness of teacher librarians in primary schools reflecting on the experience of the Melani cluster of schools. The aim was to assess the effects the school libraries have had on teaching and learning. The qualitative and quantitative study involved 110 primary learners, 39 educators, 11 teacher librarians, and an official from the Provincial Department of Education.
Open Access
Evaluation of an information literacy intervention of nursing students at four Universities of Technology in South Africa
(2013) Borephe, Sello; Nassimbeni, Mary; De Jager, Karin
The delivery of high quality patient care and the preparation for lifelong learning requires that nursing students be afforded the opportunity to develop their information literacy (IL) skills. This study explored the IL skills offered to nursing students by the Universities of Technology (UoT) in South Africa. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of an IL intervention for nursing students at four UoT. In South Africa, IL is recognised in higher education as one of the critical outcomes of a qualification. It covers the lifelong competencies of finding, locating, and using information to find solutions to daily problems, to enhance decision-making and to improve the creation of knowledge. The history of IL within academic libraries indicates its evolution from bibliographic instruction, user education and now IL. Most academic libraries in South Africa have placed it high in their strategic plans. In South Africa there is little information on the evaluation of IL interventions for nurses. This study endeavours to investigate the effectiveness of IL intervention for nursing students undertaken by UoT in South Africa. It moves away from subjective evaluation methods in order to establish the extent to which nursing students have benefited from the intervention. The evaluation is learner-centred, and will inform the librarians concerned about the effectiveness of IL intervention. The American College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education were used to evaluate IL intervention at the four UoT that offer Nursing. These UoT are: Vaal University of Technology (VUT), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The study used a questionnaire to assess students’ IL after their training sessions. The findings suggest that the IL interventions were effective, but that attention should be paid to their integration into curriculum. The study provided an insight into how IL interventions should be improved and offered within UoT. It recommends that IL interventions should be credit-bearing.
Open Access
An evaluation of information literacy of postgraduate students of the National University of Lesotho (NUL)
(2006) Mariti, Lineo Mary; De Jager, Karin; Nassimbeni, Mary
In this global information age many technological advances have changed approaches to education and the way libraries are managed. The massive increase of unfiltered information has resulted in high demands for information literacy programmes. Therefore, students need to be assisted throughout their learning process. The result of this change is the shift from teacher-centered type of learning to student-centered learning. The gap between the library and the classroom needs to be bridged by insisting on the use of information literacy skills and by promoting cooperation and collaboration of efforts between the teaching staff and the library. The learning organizations need to realize the need to embed information literacy within their curriculum to enhance quality education. The transformation requires libraries to embark on student learning and empower students with necessary information literacy skills. This issue of empowering students with necessary skills had become a motivating factor that drove me to carry out this research in order to find out the status and level of information literacy for postgraduate students of NUL. Information literacy standards were used as a measure. The study used a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A questionnaire was used as a main data collection instrument and the results were measured against the American Library Association (ALA) information literacy standards. Interviews were also conducted at NUL to supplement the main data collection instrument. Findings reflect a moderate to poor performance of a group of postgraduate and senior Law students who participated in this survey study. Findings from interviews provided evidence that NUL is aware of the concept of information literacy.
Open Access
An examination of the role of the Public Library in Cape Town, in support of Early Childhood Development, with special reference to Harare Public Library, Khayelitsha
(2017) Fako, Sipho; Nassimbeni, Mary; Bitso, Connie
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the Harare Public Library, Khayelitsha, in empowering Early Childhood Development Centres (crèches and nursery schools) in its community. The researcher focused on the relationships the library has with Early Childhood Development Centres in its community, and the non-profit organisation (NPO) providing educational services. It is argued that the provision of ECD will help reduce the cycle of poverty by strengthening the educational foundation of South Africa’s children. The main finding of the study is that strong relationships between libraries and other community stakeholders are critical in offering a better future for the children of disadvantaged communities.
Open Access
From borders and landscape to ecosystem: reconfiguring library services to meet the needs of South African youth
(University of Stellenbosch, 2013) Hart, Genevieve; Nassimbeni, Mary
In this article we consider the configuration of the South African library and information services (LIS) sector, and analyse the extent to which its structuring facilitates or hinders optimum service to the children and youth of South Africa. The background to our investigation is the crisis in public schooling and the plight of South African youth who suffer disproportionate rates of poverty and unemployment. In our investigation we examine the planning and practice in two new libraries one a community library, and one a joint-use library for learners and local residents in an effort to establish the extent to which libraries may partner with schools to take advantage of new thinking that recommends a whole system approach, encapsulated in the metaphor of LIS as an ecosystem. We conclude that this new approach might generate models of service delivery that transcend boundaries that traditionally delineate and confine sub-sectors in the LIS sector.
Open Access
The impact of the Internet on reference services in higher education libraries in South Africa
(2002) Darries, Fatima; Nassimbeni, Mary
Internet access has become an indicator of a country's socio-economic status in the Information society. Libraries of higher education institutions support the parent institutions' objective to produce graduates able to function in this society. Consequently, the Web, the most popular part of the Internet, has become ubiquitous in reference services. This study investigates the impact of the Internet on reference services by exploring the following areas: user Internet access and training in the library, use and integration of the Internet as an information tool in reference services and the Internet training and knowledge of reference librarians.
Open Access
Information Literacy in Practice: engaging public library workers in rural South Africa
(SAGE, 2007) De Jager, Karin; Nassimbeni, Mary
Mpumalanga Provincial Library Services, South Africa, offers public library services in a largely rural 'new' province created in 1996. Many of the libraries are in isolated areas and have to meet the very diverse needs of their communities. This paper reports the results of an information literacy intervention designed for public library workers in this province. The campaign, a first of its kind in Mpumalanga (and South Africa), gave public library workers the opportunity to develop their information literacy skills and to apply them in their libraries. This paper discusses the information and training needs that were identified, the campaigns that were constructed, their progress and the outcomes. From the outset, emphasis was placed on the importance of measuring and evaluating activities throughout their campaigns in order to be able to assess the impact of their interventions. The paper attempts to show what difference even small public libraries with unqualified library workers can make in tackling social exclusion in disadvantaged communities.
Open Access
Information resources, information skills and education : an exploratory study of information literacy education in community junior secondary schools in the North-East district of Botswana and the role of teacher-librarians and school libraries
(2003) Mugabe, Mover M; Nassimbeni, Mary
One of the fundamental challenges of the information era is how to ensure that the majority of the members of a given society are information literate in order to deal with problems of inequitable access to and use of information as an empowerment tool for socio-economic progress. A variety of educational and training strategies have been developed and tried in different parts of the world to address this challenge. This study investigates the nature of information literacy education in community junior secondary schools in the North-East district of Botswana and the role of teacher-librarians and school libraries in such a process.
Open Access
An investigation into the use of literacy materials by adult learners : a study of the education programmes in two Cape Town public libraries
(2007) Tandwa, Nobubele Lindela; Nassimbeni, Mary
The paper deals with the role of literacy materials in adult education in two Cape Town public libraries, namely Bellville South and Milnerton public libraries. Adult education is education that is provided to adult who lack basic education. It involves the teaching of writing, reading, calculation skills and developmental and functional skills such as income generation skills. Literacy programmes are supported by both teaching and reading materials that are usually made available in public libraries and literacy classes. The objectives of the study were to investigate the availability of locally produced literacy materials for use in literacy programmes in public libraries, the types and features of these materials and the suitability of literacy materials in acquisition of literacy skills. Milnerton and Bellville South public libraries were used as case studies because they had literacy programmes and literacy materials in their libraries. The Stikland Learning Centre was also included because it was partly managed by the Bellville South librarian. The enrolled learners in these literacy programmes, facilitators, librarians and providers were interviewed using face to face interviews. Publishers, (Viva Books. New Readers Project and Project literacy) were also interviewed. The study showed that both public libraries provided literacy programmes that aim to equip the learners with survival and functional skills. Although they also provided literacy materials to support and maintain the literacy skills, such materials were not sufficient in literacy classes because some learners did not have literacy materials in their classes. The available reading materials in public libraries also need to be adapted so that they can meet the educational and cultural needs of the users. The research also showed that there are two types of literacy materials, namely learning or instructional and reading or informational materials. Learning materials include study guides, manuals and worksheets. They are usually provided by the literacy providers and their main aims are to support the acquisition of literacy skills and they are also used for assessment purposes. Reading or informational materials are usually provided by the public libraries and they are used to maintain the newly acquired skills. The availability of these materials is important for the success of literacy programmes and to avoid relapse into illiteracy. These materials are published by various publishers such as New Readers Project (NRP), Viva Books. Project Literacy (literacy provider) and government departments such as the Department of Education. They are published in various South African languages. Both learning and reading materials were characterized with simple languages, colourful pictures and large fonts, aiming to equip learners with the developmental and survival skills that are based on their daily activities. The learners' daily activities included reading the bus/train schedule, writing CVs and job searching related skills, reading medical prescription and reading road signs. The use of either local languages or official language in these materials is determined by the needs of the learners and the language that is used in their literacy programmes.
Open Access
Investigation of information needs and information-seeking behaviour of Members of Parliament in Lesotho
(2006) Lithebe, Matsie Theresa; Nassimbeni, Mary
Information plays a crucial role in people's lives. Members of Parliament (MPs) as decision makers therefore need to be equipped with information so that they can be able to make sound decisions based on facts. They need to have access to different types of information sources such as newspapers, both local, regional and international, journals and books. Libraries of parliaments are and should also be seen to be making it easier for MPs to access information. This study investigates the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of MPs of the Lesotho parliament. A survey was done where questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from 120 members of the National Assembly and 33 Senators who all comprise Members of Parliament of Lesotho. The questionnaire consisted of both the open-ended and closed ended questions. Through the open-ended questions, the researcher was able to get more details which could not be found in short-ended questions. Interviews were also used to give the respondents the opportunity to say more of what they could not be able to say in the questionnaire. However only a selected questions were picked where the researcher felt that the respondents could further express themselves. Only five willing respondents were used in the interviews as others were not willing to be interviewed. Telephone interview was chosen as more convenient by respondents since they do not have much time during the day due to their parliamentary work commitments.MPs in Lesotho have indicated their information needs as all information that can be helpful in their parliamentary work such as during debates, when attending meetings be it workshops, conferences and interviews on political issues. Besides other information sources, such as newspapers, reports and the Internet, MPs rely mostly on books. They also use other fellow parliamentarians as sources of information.
Open Access
Libraries and a “Better Life for All”: The Politics, Processes, and Promises of the South African LIS Transformation Charter
(Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016) Hart, Genevieve; Nassimbeni, Mary
The rhetoric of public librarianship includes many ringing claims for the role of libraries in democracy; and, on the twenty-first anniversary of democracy in South Africa, it is an opportune moment to examine the rather confusing fortunes of libraries since 1994. The library and information services (LIS) profession portrays libraries as agents of development and social transformation; yet, since 2009, more than twenty South African libraries have been destroyed in social protests. This paper reports on the work of the authors of the LIS Transformation Charter, which after a start-stop-start process of two phases over six years was delivered to the government in 2014. The paper analyzes the political and professional forces that influenced the charter-writing processes. The two fundamental arguments of the charter are that access to information, and thus to libraries, is a fundamental justiciable human right, both as a so-called freedom right and as an instrument of other economic, social, and cultural rights; and that transformation will depend on “ecosystems” thinking whereby the various subsectors collaborate to ensure seamless services and the equity of provision. The paper argues that the final LIS Transformation Charter maps a path for a transformed and integrated library system that has meaning for all sectors of South African society.
Open Access
Libraries and academic development strategies in South African universities
(1992) Cuthbertson, Mary-Lynn; Nassimbeni, Mary
This dissertation examines the role of university libraries in academic support and development programmes in South Africa. It focuses on how libraries and librarians can assist under-prepared students whose educational backgrounds under apartheid have not equipped them for the transition from school to university. The socio-political, educational and library contexts are analysed in comparative perspective by looking at the experience of ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom. Issues of nation building and multi-culturalism in both Britain and South Africa are critically discussed, and the institutional aspects of professional librarianship are construed as the backdrop of user education in academic libraries. Academic development strategies in university libraries are reviewed under the rubric of affirmative action, racism awareness training, a multi-media environment, reading programmes and information retrieval and censorship. Recommendations are offered on the basis of an investigation of the literature on user education in libraries and its application to academic development for under-prepared students.