Browsing by Subject "Librarianship"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    A phenomenological study of experiences in blended librarianship among academic librarians in Zimbabwe with special reference to selected higher education institutions
    (2018) Dabengwa, Israel Mbekezeli; Raju, Jayarani; Matingwina, Thomas
    This exploratory phenomenological study served the purpose of investigating the phenomenon of the Zimbabwean academic librarian whose professional identity has been evolving into Bell and Shank's (2007) blended librarianship over the past decade. The primary objective of this study was to explore the shared experiences of blended librarianship to find out how effectively Zimbabwean academic librarians adhere to their dynamic roles and functions, and how they are perceived in the university. To achieve the primary goal, the study was framed using the theoretical constructs from Lave and Wenger's (1991) Legitimate Peripheral Participation (LPP) and Communities of Practice (CoP), to understand how academic librarians learnt in the workplace through involvement in authentic work tasks. The research methodology relied on Heidegger’s Interpretive Phenomenology Analysis and the philosophy of interpretivism. The researcher looked for the academic librarian’s experiences of blended librarianship and then made sense of the academic librarian’s interpretation, to draw out a common meaning of blended librarianship. The researcher collected data from a calculated sample of 101 academic librarians from non-professional roles to Library Board level. Data collected was triangulated using multiple methods of data collection that included a semi-structured questionnaire, document research and semi-structured interviews. Data was collected from academic librarians from the Bindura State University of Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Lupane State University, Midlands State University, the National University of Science and Technology, and PHSBL80 University which was anonymised. Though blended librarianship had been adopted in different academic libraries through various ways that account for the sociocultural and historical issues in each academic library, it can be concluded that blended librarianship may bridge the theory-practice divide. The study recommends academic libraries to move towards integrating the teaching of Information Literacy Skills (ILS) and Low Threshold Technologies Applications (LTAs) into the courses that are taught by lecturers. This is set to place academic librarians within the context of their community, where they can contribute “legitimately” as equals, rather than working at the periphery of the classroom where they have a subservient role as seen in the study.
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    Attitudes towards the library and information profession among practising librarians and information workers in the Western Cape
    (1986) Ivey, Dorothy Lyle; Kesting, J G
    An investigation was undertaken into the attitudes held by library/information workers towards their profession because it was considered that the strength of these attitudes may affect not only the self-concept and work performance of individuals, but also the quality and dimensions of the support received by the profession from society. The study was conducted in two parts: the literature survey and the empirical investigation. The empirical investigation was limited geographically to the Western Cape region of South Africa.
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    Bibliography of the publications of J.C. Juta and J.C. Juta and Co. 1853-1903
    (1954) Caine, A. B.; Leipoldt, L
    This is not a comprehensive bibliography of Juta publications for the period 1853 to 1903; indeed we doubt whether it is a complete record of the publications to be found in Cape Town -and no attempt has been made to trace publications in other centres. Certain sources in Cape Town have not been investigated at all, for example, advertisements in newspapers were not sought for beyond 188 3 and then the search was confined to four newspapers, published in Cape Town. A check on some of the advertisements thus found revealed that Juta's hardly advertised at all in the Eastern province during this period, but a similar check on the Dutch papers originating in Cape Town held more promise. But these researches were abandoned in favour of the more fruitful fields of Africana collections and periodicals of the time.
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    The interrelatedness of book selection and censorship in public libraries with special reference to the position in the Republic of South Africa
    (1981) Sales, Digby Alexander Wollaston; Kesting, J G
    The thesis approached the investigation as to whether or not there is any interrelatedness between book selection and censorship in public libraries , in two ways : viz.(a) a review of the literature, and (b) an exploratory empirical investigation of the position in South Africa. The literature survey was the major part of the study in which the attention was focused on the current position in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Republic of South Africa. As a means of introduction to the public library, a brief outline of the rise of libraries in the West was given, with special mention being made of the growth of literacy. The modern public library's aims and objectives in the three countries concerned were covered separately as these determine the formulation of a specific book selection policy. This in turn depends on two main factors, viz. the nature of the community being served and the theoretical principles of book selection. The possible negative effects of literary censorship on public libraries, realising their aims and objectives, is discussed by first giving an outline of literary censorship in the West. This is preceded by a discussion of the pros and cons of censorship which served as an introduction to the issue as• to whether or not censorship occurs in public libraries by examining such aspects as their assumptions, the response to complaints, and the reserve shelf. The empirical study served as a corollary to the above. It covered all the public libraries in South Africa which determine selection policy to any large extent, viz. the four provincial library services and the then autonomous municipal libraries. The rudimentary nature of the study resulted in no definitive statements being made. Nevertheless, it appeared that as their overseas counterparts , South African librarians did sometimes censor. It was concluded that all librarians sometimes censor so that there is an interrelatedness between book selection and censorship.
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    Staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
    (2018) Metlhaleng, Tlhalefo; Raju, Jayarani; Raju, Reggie
    The study sought to ascertain staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). In addressing the above objective, the study used the innovation-decision making process of the Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) theory (Rogers 1983) to formulate the following critical questions to guide the study: What knowledge, skills and personal attributes are required in the planning and establishing of a successful institutional repository in an academic institution?; Do BUAN staff (academics and relevant support staff) have the knowledge, skills and personal attributes necessary for planning and establishing a successful repository?; How significant a role do personal attributes such as attitudes and perceptions play in the planning and establishing of an IR at BUAN?; and, What measures may be put in place to reinforce the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at the BUAN Library? The research paradigm suitable for this study was the pragmatic paradigm because of diverse types of data used in the study. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design by using both quantitative and qualitative research methods to collect data concurrently. It adopted a case study approach as the researcher undertook an in-depth enquiry into staff competencies in the planning and establishing of an institutional repository at BUAN. The study population consisted of 201 BUAN academics, three Library repository staff, and two Information Technology (IT) staff. Semi-structured interviews were used to source data from purposively selected library repository staff and BUAN IT staff. A structured questionnaire was administered to the academics. Descriptive statistics was used in the analysis of the study’s quantitative data and thematic content analysis for its qualitative data. A number of knowledge sets, skills and personal attributes emerged from the study as being required in the planning and establishing of a successful repository at BUAN, critical amongst these being knowledge of metadata and metadata standards. An important recommendation emanating from the study related to repository advocacy and outreach among BUAN academics as well as on-going training of library repository staff to keep them abreast of latest repository developments.
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    The information needs of people with albinism in Khomas Region, Namibia
    (2018) Ngula, Anna Kaukowe; Bitso, Connie
    The dissertation is a report of an investigation of the information needs of people with albinism in Khomas region, Namibia. The investigation aims to ascertain the information needs of people with albinism (PWA), including the kind of information needs they have. It also seeks to establish the mechanisms used by PWA to seek information and to determine who initiates their information-seeking activities. Furthermore, the study identifies the challenges PWA in Khomas region face on a daily basis when seeking information and recommends information services that could be suitable for PWA in Khomas region. For its theoretical framework, the study applies Moore (2002) and Wilson’s (1996) model of information behaviour. It is situated within the interpretivism paradigm following a qualitative approach. The research design is that of a case study with aspects of autoethnography resulting from the researcher’s personal memory of her lived experiences of albinism as a mother of two children with albinism. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with sixteen people with albinism; six parents of children with albinism (CWA); and two key informants from associations dealing with PWA in Namibia. The findings reveal that PWA have information needs related to their condition, specifically skin and eye care, as well as other basic needs, such as shelter, employment opportunities, education prospects and the process of their acquisition of identity and travel documents. The study revealed that the internet (especially Google), the radio and television, healthcare professionals and Support in Namibia of Albinism Sufferers Requiring Assistance (SINASRA) and Namibia Albino Association Trust (NAAT) are some of the sources and mechanisms used by participants when searching for information. The organisational participants revealed that they provide a range of services to PWA, including information about skin care and protective clothing, as well as applications for disability grants. PWA who participated in the study indicated that they encounter problems when accessing information. These include the long distances between information seekers and providers, time constraints and the cost associated with accessing information. Language was identified as a major barrier to information access because most of the content is in English. Lack of awareness of information sources coupled with poor eyesight for PWA the reading of information in small fonts that is not provided in alternative formats a glaring challenge. The study concluded that information about albinism is critical not only for PWA, but also to an African society that often subjects PWA to grievous harm, simply because it still holds myths and stigma about albinism. Therefore, the study recommends that it is crucial to provide information to PWA, including their family members through platforms such as open days, sensitisation meetings, and the creation of WhatsApp groups. These interventions should also be directed at society at large in order to create a sense of belonging and get rid of isolation suffered by PWA. The study also recommends that an information booklet be developed by the ministry of health and social services. This booklet should contain information on different types of disabilities that can affect unborn children, in order to prepare the parents.