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Determinants of effective library user education in public and private universities in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2012-05-07) Kavulya, Joseph Mwema
This study aimed at investigating the various factors that affect the effectiveness of library user education in private and public universities in Kenya. It also assessed how far these library user education programmes/practices are enabling the clientele to make the best use of library resources by giving them the appropriate library skills. The study covered two public and two private universities and involved 120 students in total, and 28 librarians. It utilized questionnaire and observation checklist in data collection. Being descriptive, it largely used descriptive statistics to analyse data and make inferences.The findings of the study indicate that the present library user education practices in Kenyan public and private universities have not succeeded in facilitating maximum utilization of information resources and services in the respective libraries due to reasons such as poor timing g of such progrmmes in the students university life, inadequate time allocation to these programmes and institutional factors e.g. Lack of proper policies on library user education as well as lack of evaluation of such programmes.The study recommends that among other steps, university libraries need to have well stated policies to guide them in the area of user education and more time should be allocated to these programmes. Each form of library user education should be guided by realistic objectives. Even more importantly, it underscores the need to evaluate these progrommes regularly.Therefore, the study has revealed the state-of-art concerning the performance of university libraries in user education, exposed the various shortcomings in library user education and the reasons for them. It further provides a basis for future action, in the planning an implementation of user education programmes.
Trends in funding of university libraries in Kenya: a survey
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2006) Kavulya, Joseph M.
Purpose – To investigate recent trends in funding and collection development in university libraries in Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on primary data collected from four university libraries in Kenya as well as secondary literature relating to university libraries in Kenya.
Findings – This paper concludes that funding of university library services in Kenya is inadequate. Due to diminished governmental fund allocations for these institutions, their library collection development levels have deteriorated and are characterized by low monographic purchases and limited journal subscriptions. This decline is at odds with rapidly expanding student enrolment levels. Private universities experience these problems too, but to a lesser extent.
Originality/value – The paper recommends that to ensure that university libraries continue to provide adequate information services supporting teaching, learning and research, the adoption of a strategic plan in all areas of library management, and especially in funding and collection development, is needed.
Digital libraries and development in Sub-Saharan Africa A review of challenges and strategies
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2007) Kavulya, Joseph M.
The aim of this paper is to review some of the critical information needs in Sub-Saharan Africa and the challenges that face libraries in the region in establishing digital libraries as a way of overcoming the great information shortfall in the region.
Design/methodology/approach – A selective survey of relevant literature is carried out in the study with focus on the role of libraries and information in social development, sectoral information needs and the issues involved in the establishment of digital libraries.
Findings – The paper argues that lack of social development in Africa is exacerbated by lack of adequate information. The paper concludes that, through better information gathering, processing and especially by taking advantage of today’s digital transfer of knowledge, countries in the Sub-Saharan region can experience rapid economic, social and political development.
Originality/value – The paper concludes that digital libraries in the Sub-Saharan region can be strategic gateways to the global information and a boost to development in the region. The goal of establishing digital libraries in the region can be achieved through measures such as adoption of modern information communication technologies, amassing relevant digital content, investing in digital skills for library staff and users, strategic partnerships between local institutions, and funding agencies and above all government-backed strategy on digital libraries.
Transforming Africa into a Knowledge-based society: Concretizing the case for Digital Literacies and Revision of ICT Strategies in the Education Sector in the Region
(IST-Africa, 2015) Kavulya, Joseph M.; Kyengo, Bernadette N.
In the recent past there has been a global push for the transformation of communities into knowledge societies as a strategy of achieving development. This transformation is expected to enable communities use knowledge to solve current societal problems, create employment, sustained democratic governance, and economic growth. Education is a key pillar in this process and in the African context of Africa, there is need to reform the educational strategy if countries in this region are to achieve this transformation. The new strategy should be include a curriculum reform to target digital literacies, intensive investments in ICT infrastructure in education sector, digitalization of curriculum content and re-alignment of human capacity among educators to the needs of knowledge-driven society. There is also need for continuous research on key knowledge society indicators to evolve best practices and ensure evidence-based approaches in ICT projects.
Library and information science education in the 21st century: report of a needs assessment study for training of LIS professionals in Kenya
(Finesse Publishing, 2006) Kavulya, Joseph
The library and information science field in Kenya is currently characterised by a proliferation of training programmes at all levels of study. Whereas some of the courses are created and offered by local universities and tertiary institutions other are provided through distance learning by foreign institutions. At the same time the global society is characterised by changes that affect practice in information field worldwide. This study was carried out as a contribution to the effort to understand the kind of curriculum for training of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals that equips its graduates with the right skills, knowledge and values required by the society and the current job market in Kenya.