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LIS training and education in Zambia
(Innovation, 1994) Chifwepa, Vitalicy
The slow start and difficult progress of training and education for librarianship in Zambia before and since independence is described. Problems identified include, state control, luck of funds, shortage of qualified personnel, indadequate curriculum development, and failure to provide training in information techniques. Spearheaded by the Department of Library Studies at the University of Zambia, the situation is being reviewed critically and development are being evisaged.
Short Communications: Internet in the Library; Potentials
(Archlib & Information services ltd, 1997-04) Yumba, D
The internet has become one of the most important media of communication of our times. Its impact on information providers and seekers is tremendous. The library being one of the key players in the provision of information from ancient times has not remained unaffected by internet. The paper briefly looks at the potentials offered by internet and why libraries, information centres and researcher institutions in Africa should have internet connectivity.It further highlights constraints to internet access in an African setting.
Library and Information Science Curricula in Zambia
(SAGE publications, 1999) Chifwepa, Vitalicy
While library and information science programmes in Zambia are relevant to the present needs of employers, there is a need to focus more on information technology and the use of non print media to enable graduates to adapt to the changing needs of the employment market.
Whither Africa in the Information Age?
(Information Development, 2002-12-01) Yumba, Dickson
IT skills needs for collection development at the University of Botswana Library
(Emerald, 2003) Mutula, Stephen; Makondo, Francina S
The rapid and continuing evolution of information technology has occasioned large stocks of electronic resources in libraries and created pressure for both library professionals and users to continue learning in order to provide effective service and make adequate use of the new information materials. Discusses collection development practices at the University of Botswana Library in an environment of increasing electronic resources of information. Considers the skills needed for librarians to effectively procure and manage such resources and for users to effectively use the resources. Provides an assessment of the performance of University of Botswana Library in this new electronic dispensation, and looks at how the library has faced the challenges of information technology
Nurturing Information and Communications Technology in Africa
(Humanities Research Forum, 2004-06-01) Yumba, Dickson
Information is a very important asset that must be managed in order to enhance its creation, sharing and application for the sustenance of society. This view arises from the globally accepted fact that information is an essential ingredient in the socio-economic development process of any society. There is no sector or economic activity that can function effectively without information. The advent and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized information-handling activities to an appreciable sophisticated level. In the wake of ICTs development, Africa finds herself on the other side of what has come to be termed the Digital Divide. She lags behind the industrial societies in acquisition and application of ICTs and subsequently the benefits thereof for various reasons. The paper asserts that a conducive environment to promote and sustain the growth and development of ICTs must be created if Africa is to benefit fully from ICTs. The paper suggests steps that can be taken to nurture ICTs: creating a permanent official coordinating agency that would be responsible for all aspects that relate to ICTs and formulate a national policy as a means of strengthening national ICTs capabilities.
Modernization of Library and Information Services in Higher Education in Swaziland: strategic interventions, 2000/1-2005/6
(SAGE publications, 2007-01-01) Muswazi, Paiki; Yumba, Dickson
This is a discussion of the implementation of the University of Swaziland (UNISWA)strategic plan 2000/1-2005/6.The goal of the article is to assess the impact of the information technology, policies,procedures, collaboration, funding,management, human resources development, preservation, marketing and information service delivery strategies on the modernization of its library and and information services (LIS). It is argued that UNISWA has affected considerable staff re-skilling and made some progress towards widening access to quality subscription based electronic resources and optimizing the utilization of open access materials. Implementation was negatively influenced by low funding, limited local content web . inadequate information and communication technology infrastructure,scarce professional skills, and restrictive policies and procedures. It concludes that further work revolving around the above factors, taking into account user needs for independent life long learning, is the key to deepening the modernization of LIS at UNISWA.
Meeting collection development needs in resource poor settings: the University of Zambia Medical Library experience
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2008) Kanyengo, Christine Wamunyima
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to take stock of the current state of information resources and approaches used to meet collection development needs at the University of Zambia Medical Library. Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodological approach accompanied by a review of the literature, annual reports and official documents was used Findings – The findings indicate that the UNZA Medical Library has not had adequate funding since the early 1980s and its collection cannot meet the information needs of its users without the support of other organizations. Practical implications – Dwindling financial resources are a scenario that is common to libraries all over the world but more pronounced in Sub- Saharan Africa, where libraries have seen major reductions in their funding levels over time. The library has devised alternative strategies, other than funding from the parent institution, for meeting its collection development requirements. Originality/value – Lessons learned over time and best practices that can be of use to other libraries that are facing funding problems are highlighted.
Information and communication: a library’s local response to HIV⁄AIDS in Zambia
(University of Zambia, 2009) Kanyengo, Christine Wamunyima
Objective: To document and describe the University of Zambia Medical library’s responses to the fight against HIV ⁄AIDS in Zambia. Methods: The methodology adopted was a case study approach combined with an analysis of the literature such as annual reports and official documents. This was augmented by personal reflections of the author having worked at the Medical Library. Results: The University of Zambia Medical library has over the years instituted and implemented HIV ⁄AIDS information provision programmes that include the provision of information in various formats – print or electronic and, in addition, capacity building in HIV ⁄AIDS information literacy skills. Conclusion: A library’s social responsibility calls for it to be part of national responses to crises that arise in society. As HIV ⁄AIDS has affected every aspect of Zambian society prevention, treatment, care and support there is an understanding that the library’s role should be using the cri tical and strategic resource at its disposal – information – as part of their contribution to the fight against HIV ⁄AIDS. In this context, libraries should source, collect, organize and disseminate information on HIV ⁄AIDS in a way that is easily accessible to researchers, HIV ⁄AIDS programme implementation agencies and the ordinary public.
Zambia: The challenge of informing blind and deaf clients
(University of Zambia, 2009) Kanyengo, Christine W.
HIV and AIDS in Zambia is a major public and social health issue that demands a multifaceted approach if it is to be tackled successfully. Government, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and communities are employing diverse but complementary strategies to mitigate the effects of the disease. This article highlights the information services the Zambia National Library and Cultural Centre for the Blind has for the disabled, specifically those with sight and hearing challenges.
Managing digital information resources in Africa: Preserving the integrity of scholarship
(Elservier, 2009) Kanyengo, Christine
Permanent access and storage of recorded knowledge resources have been the cornerstone of libraries for centuries. Preserving the integrity of scholarship is one of the greatest challenges facing librarians and information professionals the world over today. In Africa the issue comes very much to the fore because of the prevailing conditions and the state of the continent’s knowledge resources. This paper explores and reviews issues of permanency, accuracy, and integrity of stored digital knowledge resources in sub-Saharan Africa. ª 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Information provision to students using mobile phones: A case study of the University of Zambia Library
(Zambia Library Association, 2009-01-01) Kakana, Fabian; Kanyengo, Christine Wamunyima
Provision of library and information services using mobile telephones is gaining popularity among library users worldwide. And some libraries have taken advantage of this technology in order to introduce new library services as well as reach library users that traditionally they would not able to reach. This paper looks at the possibility of introducing a mobile library service by the University of Zambia (UNZA) library as an alternative way of providing information to university students. This is done by assessing the views of students. The findings points out that students will overwhelming accept the service. The paper concludes that by using mobile cell phones, the library can introduce new library services; expand its user base and reach users that are not easily reachable.
A library response to the massification of higher education: the case of the University of Zambia.
(International Association of Universities, 2009-01-01) Kanyengo, Christine
This paper looks at the challenges that libraries in Africa face in responding to massification of higher education by discussing the University of Zambia library’s response in library and information resources provision. As a result of massification of higher education, libraries have been forced not only to employ new and different strategies to meet the increased demand for information resources but also to balance the increased demand for services with dwindling human and financial resources. In doing so, the library’s response to massification needs to take cognizance of the different levels of information literacy skills in order to afford every student an equitable opportunity to effectively use the information resources available.
An Evaluation of Library Support Services for Distance Education Students at University of Zambia
(2010-09-20) Kakana, Fabian
Distance education is one of the most popular forms of education offered world wide to those students who have had no opportunity to enroll full time in various educational institutions including universities. Distance education is also seen to be cost effective especially in developing countries such as Zambia which do not have adequate educational infrastructure to support the growing population in need of education. The University of Zambia is one of those educational institutions of higher learning in Zambia that has been offering distance education for more than 40 years. In recent past, the university has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of people that have enrolled as distance students. The records obtained from the Directorate of Distance Education, shows an increase of distance learners’ from 314 during 1996/7 academic year to 1165 during 2003/4 academic year [1]. This upswing in the number of distance learners has necessitated the university management to institute a number of reforms to improve the capacity of Directorate of Distance Education so that it can stand the pressure of serving the increased number of distance education students. However, these reforms have not included library services for distance education programmes at the institution. This survey therefore presents the findings of the research conducted on the existing library services support for distance education students at University of Zambia (UNZA). The main objective of the research was to evaluate the University of Zambia’s provision of library and information services to its distance learners and the extent to which these services meet the needs of the learners. The study was done with a view to suggesting ways in which library information provision to distance students at UNZA could be improved. Data collection was done at UNZA in Lusaka-Zambia. A total number of 66 people (respondents) were interviewed in this survey. 46 were members of staff working at UNZA who included lecturers, Directorate of Distance Education staff, Central Administration staff and Library staff. The distance education students interviewed were 20 from Lusaka and the Copper belt. The findings of the study revealed that the University of Zambia Library has problems in meeting the information needs of distance learners. The University Library for instance, does not have regional Libraries to carter for those students living in far places. The study also revealed that very few reforms have taken place in the library to improve distance learners access to information. The Library has almost no cooperation with other Libraries in the country and only coordinates with Directorate of Distance Education （DDE）during residential schools in providing short library orientations to distance education students. In addition, no information literacy courses are offered to distance education at UNZA thus making it difficult for students to search for information independently. As a result, Distance learners largely depend on printed teaching materials and book extracts prepared by their lecturers. Recommendations concerning the need of library cooperation, resource sharing, use of Information Telecommunication Technologies (ICTs) and user education programmes have been highlighted as some of the measures that can improve students’ accessibility to library resources at the University of Zambia
Promoting good governance through freedom of access to information and cersorship to information
(2011-03-01) Miyanda, Munzya, Eness; Kakana, Fabian
Information providing institutions have a national role to play in promoting democracy and good governance in their countries by ensuring that there is effective free flow of information and knowledge between the government and its people.Freedom of access to information is not only a fundamental right but also a means to power because on one hand, it enables individuals and institutions to make appropriate choices and to meaningfully particpate in the decision making processess. On the other hand, it ensures transparency,reduced corruption and accountability of government institutions thereby promoting democracy and good governance.However, as much as people have the right to information,some information can bring about insecurity and instability in the country.Information providing institutions therefore have a duty to also censor information to ensure that apparopriate and unbiased information that would promote security,peace and ultimately good governance in the country reaches the public.
Moodle Adoption at the University of Zambia: Opportunities and Challenges.
(Science Journal of Sociology & Anthropology, 2012) Chitumbo, Eness M. Miyanda; chewe, Pailet
Using the Internet to enhance e-learning has become a trend in modern higher education institutes. E-learning systems are increasingly becoming an important part of the strategy for delivering online and flexible elearning. The main advantage of e-learning is the opportunity for students to interact electronically with each other and their teachers during forums, on discussion boards, by e-mail and in chat rooms. Though recognizing that the world at large will continue to use terminology in different and often ambiguous ways, the term e-learning is used to refer to the on-line interactions of a variety of kinds that take place between learners and instructors. This study set out to understand the potentials and challenges of adopting Moodle e-learning software at the University of Zambia (UNZA). Specific objectives were to establish awareness and usage levels of Moodle, potential benefits and challenges and possible adoption strategies. Results indicated that majority of UNZA community were not aware of Moodle's existence and thus did not use it. It was however, established that despite people not knowing of Moodle's existence, a larger population was willing to support its adoption. The study also revealed that UNZA has the capacity to effectively implement Moodle due to the availability of skilled manpower, ICT facilities such as Internet/intranet connectivity and infrastructure. The research further established various strategies that would lead to a successful adoption process such as (1) train lecturers first so that they could in turn train their students (2) conduct campus-wide sensitization campaigns through workshops and (3) implement Moodle in stages.
Institutional Repositories: A Gem for UNISWA
(Zambia Library Association Journal, 2012) Yumba, Dickson
The use of ICTs has brought about a paradigm shift in academic and commercial publishing industry. In last twenty years or so we have increasingly witnessed a shift from hard copy to electronic/digital publishing. Among many new methods is the concept of Institutional Repository (IR). This paper seeks to highlight the meaning of, and strategic benefits that can accrue with the establishment of IR for University of Swaziland and other institutions that are considering setting up IR. The paper stresses the importance of IR towards developing African scholarship and takes an interdisciplinary approach, the main component of which is library and information services. It is found that IR increases the visibility of African scholarship on the global scale which to is kept to a very minimum due to publishing inabilities and other related problems and also brings to light the intellectual output of university which can be used as a basis for sourcing funds. It is hoped that this paper will influence positive thinking towards IR thereby encouraging scholars and researcher to-participate in building IR in their organizations. The paper adds to the body of knowledge about IR in general
Information sources used by postgraduate students in Education: A Citation Analysis of Masters’ Dissertations
(University of Zambia, 2012) Sakala, Gelvazio; Akakandelwa, Akakandelwa;
This study used citation analysis to establish the types of information resources used by education master's students in writing their dissertations at the University of Zambia. Four thousand seven hundred and twenty-two (4722) bibliographic references in 85 dissertations from the period 2000-2010 were examined using variables: year of publication, author, source title, source format, subject, and place of publication. The results show that monographic resources were the most cited information formats followed by journals. Authorship pattern indicates preference for single authored works, followed by government publications. It was also noted that researchers in the education discipline cited other formats such as: Internet resources, manuscripts, theses, conference papers, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, radio and television broadcasting programmes. The findings give feedback to the University of Zambia librarians with regard to resources used by education masters' students during the period under review. These findings can be useful in guiding the University of Zambia Library acquisition department in the information resources selection process.
Usage of e-journals
(ZLA, 2012-05-16) Chitumbo, Eness M.M.
ACCESS TO AND USAGE OF PRINT SERIAL PUBLICATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA (UNZA) LIBRARY
(2014-05-21) Miyanda Eness M. Chitumbo, Chipasha Florence Mulundika; Tembo Sarah Gwai, Banda Jason
Abstract This study set out to investigate factors that lead to less usage of serial resources in the University of Zambia Library. It embraced both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from the field. A total sample size of 170 respondents was used to provide information. Collected data from questionnaires was analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while data from interviews was done manually through content analysis The research revealed that the levels of serials usage are low due to lack of knowledge of serials collection and its services by users, inadequate search skills, insufficient orientation at both 1st year level and later on, unavailability of some information needed by some users, outdated resources, serials collection being a closed access area, etc. In order to improve serial usage the study further revealed that serials collection need to be properly organized according to subjects; employ proactive, qualified and friendly staff to adequately assist, guide and teach users on how to access, retrieve and use journals and other periodicals in the collection; sensitize library users on the importance of journal use and communicate to them about new materials; serials collection should be open-access area; and provide current journals in all subject areas offered at the University.

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