{"title":"Implementing a Certificate of Information Literacy programme and engaging with faculty: a case study of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology","authors":"Zulaiga Davids, Yunus Omar","doi":"10.7553/84-1-1716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/84-1-1716","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a certificate-based information literacy (IL) programme at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The evaluation determined whether there was improvement in the academic performance of students. It also evaluated the collaboration between the library and lecturers, and how librarians and lecturers evaluated the programme. The study used a case study approach. A questionnaire survey asked lecturers to evaluate the implementation of the programme and its impact on students’ performance. In a focus group discussion, librarians reported on the students’ performance and on how they engaged and collaborated with lecturers. The study was limited to two faculties and to first-year and Extended Curricular Programme (ECP) or foundation level students within Communication and English classes. The results indicated effective programme implementation by using a student-centered teaching approach. The IL content was aligned to academic tasks. Formative assessments showed that student learning took place constantly. The summative assessment indicated improved student performance. Findings were validated by lecturers’ feedback. The IL programme was a participatory model, resulting in a shared understanding of IL and built strong collaboration between lecturers and librarians. The implications of the study showed that the programme, the first short course offered by the library officially endorsed by the university, had been successful in its implementation, collaboration and student performance and that it offered value. It is hoped that information literacy will be fully embedded into curricula as stated by the institutional information literacy policy and for it to be part of a fully accredited course.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49299487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scopus or Web of Science for a bibliometric profile of pharmacy research at a Nigerian university","authors":"N. Boshoff, M. Akanmu","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1682","url":null,"abstract":"Previous comparisons between Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) paid little attention to universities in African countries. This study investigated the effect of using different data sources on the bibliometric profile of Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, focusing on the Faculty of Pharmacy for the period 1990-2013. In addition to data from Scopus and WoS, the analysis included articles from the curriculum vitae (CVs) of the faculty staff. The combined dataset (Scopus, WoS and CV data) provided answers to the central question: What differences can be observed in the bibliometric profile of research when comparing the Scopus and WoS output to the total article output? Although Scopus and WoS differed in size, the results of each showed a similar pattern. Notable differences were found with regard to indicators of research collaboration. WoS in particular appeared to be biased towards international collaboration. Additional sources of articles (beyond WoS and Scopus) are required to assess adequately research performance at faculty level for a university in a developing country. The quality aspect of those additional sources cannot be ignored.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45716402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The management of medical records in the context of service delivery in the public sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the case of Ngwelezana hospital","authors":"L. Luthuli, T. Kalusopa","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1679","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1679","url":null,"abstract":"In South Africa, under the public sector reforms, issues of public service delivery are anchored to by Batho Pele principles that were introduced in 1997 to entrench public service delivery in order to underscore transparency and accountability. Among other issues, the Batho Pele principles espouse efficient and effective public health sector delivery services which, in context, can be propelled by a reliable and trustworthy medical records regime. Several studies conducted at national level and particularly at provincial level (Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape) point to the fact that good and efficient records management is critical in realising accountable and transparent health service delivery. There has been the recognition of this synergy between medical records management and service delivery, yet there are few empirical studies which examine the role of records management in KwaZulu-Natal province; more particularly, with specific reference to the Ngwelezana Public Hospital. This study, therefore, presents empirical results of an investigation into the implementation of good records management services and the extent to which this contributes to corresponding citizen satisfaction of good health delivery at the community level. The ultimate goal of the study is to understand the scale and dimension of good medical records management in determining issues of accountability in health care for citizens at local or community level in the quest for optimal health service delivery and governance. Overall, the evidence shows that poor records management could undermine the service delivery, particularly transparency and accountability in health delivery. The study endorses, based on best practice, recommendations that underscore good records management governance, recordkeeping system, records management technology and infrastructure, records archival processes, and records management human resource capabilities","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42201385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"E-visibility of environmental science researchers at the University of South Africa","authors":"L. Adriaanse, C. Rensleigh","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1636","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1636","url":null,"abstract":"Research e-visibility embodies online presence on the World Wide Web, discoverability via research e-profiles and accessibility of research output available online. The purpose of this study is to report on the e-visibility status phase of a longitudinal e-visibility study (Dec 2014 – April 2017) investigating the e-visibility themes of online presence, researcher discoverability and accessibility of research output of the environmental science researchers at the University of South Africa. Bibliometric and altmetric data were collected via online searches and an online survey was completed by the School of Environmental Sciences during December 2014. The results for online research presence indicate a preference for using free search engines versus fee-based traditional resources. Regarding researcher discoverability via e-profiles, the results indicated a preference for using free websites, with the highest distribution on LinkedIn. A higher distribution of research output on free online resources was reported, with a low percentage of researchers participated in self-archiving on social networking tools, in online archives and in repositories, which resulted in a small percentage of accessible research output online. This research suggests that the development of an e-visibility strategy would support and enable academic e-visibility, therefore increasing online research visibility, discoverability and accessibility of the School of Environmental Sciences researchers at University of South Africa.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46245208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reconsidering a digital learning commons in a distance teaching and learning environment","authors":"B. V. Wyk, Irvine Kadzenga","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1699","url":null,"abstract":"This case study reports on observations and outcomes after the first phase of a digital learning commons implementation project at a private higher education institution and offers solutions to improve this information service. The paper asks whether the learning commons framework by Faber (2012) used during the first phase of the project is sufficient for the implementation of a successful digital learning commons; what is required to equip and skill librarians and information specialists to interact meaningfully and to support teaching and learning sufficiently on technological, informational and academic levels; and whether the digital librarian and information specialists in the digital learning commons could benefit from further insights informed by pedagogic, andragogic and heutagogic frameworks to address issues such as digital resistance. The methodology used for this paper includes a literature review on recent research on digital learning commons, the exploration of teaching and learning frameworks, as well as reporting on the digital learning commons project. With a better understanding of teaching and learning frameworks, information services could be planned, aligned and integrated with active learning objectives. Key success factors for a learning commons supporting learners in an online environment were identified.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43278931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of Kenyan universities in promoting research and scholarly publishing","authors":"Florence N. Weng’ua, D. Rotich, E. Kogos","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1705","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined the role of Kenyan universities in promoting research and scholarly publishing. Two universities, one public and one private, were sampled from the total number of seventy-one universities in Kenya. From a population of 433 in total, 111 participants were sampled from the two universities and from the Commission for University Education (CUE). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The study revealed that the role of CUE in promoting research and scholarly publishing has not yet been fully realised in universities and that incentives offered to university faculty members to research and publish are ineffective. Faculty members of universities experienced research challenges including: inadequate research funding and infrastructure, poorly funded libraries, insufficient time for research and training, and a poor research culture. The study concluded that there is a need for universities to motivate and facilitate their faculty members to undertake research and publish research findings. CUE should play an active role in promoting research and scholarly publishing in Kenyan universities.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46747196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors influencing the behaviour of academics towards peer-reviewed electronic journals in Zimbabwean state universities","authors":"Takawira Machimbidza, S. Mutula","doi":"10.7553/83-2-1688","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-2-1688","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the factors influencing the behaviour of academics towards peer-reviewed electronic journals at three state universities in Zimbabwe. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches using a survey research design. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires that were administered to a sample of 363 academics. The response rate was 58.4%. Qualitative data were collected through interviews that were held with nine professional librarians. Results show that barriers and other mitigating factors that negatively affect the behaviour of academics towards peer-reviewed electronic journals include inadequate infrastructure to support access to electronic journals, inefficient and slow speed of internet connections, lack of skills to navigate the electronic journals environment, challenges with off-campus access, user-unfriendly library website interfaces, and difficult-to-use electronic journal interfaces. The study concluded that state universities in Zimbabwe have not done enough to address the challenges that affect usage of electronic journals. The study recommends that universities in Zimbabwe work to eliminate all forms of barriers that discourage use of peer-reviewed electronic journals. They can lobby government for tax exemptions when importing equipment for use in electronic journals access. The private sector can also be encouraged to play a part in supporting the building of electronic journals infrastructure. Training of new academic members of staff in the access of electronic journals should be made mandatory, and refresher training instituted for previously trained academics.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2018-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48449600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Capacity building modules for public libraries to support small-scale business enterprises in Meru County, Kenya","authors":"P. Gichohi, O. B. Onyancha, F. Dulle","doi":"10.7553/83-1-1652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-1-1652","url":null,"abstract":"The lack of well-structured capacity building programmes is a serious drawback to the effective development of small-scale business enterprises (SBEs) in Kenya. Public libraries as community information centres can collaborate with other stakeholders in facilitating the required skills. This study investigated the training needs of SBE traders and public library staff with the aim of proposing capacity building modules that can be considered by public libraries in Meru County, Kenya in their endeavour to support the SBEs. In implementing the study, a mixed methods approach was used and the survey research design adopted. Cluster and systematic sampling techniques were used in getting 355 SBE traders while census was used on twenty-one library staff and on two staff from Meru County government. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the required data. The response rate was 83.4% and 95% for SBE traders and public library staff respectively. Descriptive statistics and thematic techniques were used to analyse the data. We used the findings of this study and the scholarly insights from previous studies to propose two sets of capacity building modules: for SBE traders and for the public library staff. The training areas comprise business information literacy, technology competency, and nature of information in the business domain. We recommend the adoption of the proposed modules in public libraries in Kenya in elevating support and value contribution in the development of the small business community. We further recommend a training policy for SBEs and the recruitment of experienced, skilled and knowledgeable business librarians.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2017-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44364077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of use and quality of library services, accessibility and facilities by students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology","authors":"Deborah Becker, Hillary Hartle, G. Mhlauli","doi":"10.7553/83-1-1642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-1-1642","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of library services and facilities by students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and, in particular, gather feedback with regards to service satisfaction, accessibility and use of facilities. The investigation, carried out in March 2015, was based on a triangulation approach including surveys, informal interviews and an observation study. A total of 394 students responded to the survey. Their opinions supported information gathered from other surveys and available statistics. The results indicated that, although demand for some services such as circulation and reference transactions are decreasing, the number of visits to library facilities is increasing. While students prefer using online resources, they still choose face-to-face interaction with library staff as their first choice of contact, followed by email. Information literacy training, seen as essential by librarians, is rated as ‘least important’ by respondents. It was revealed that, although students show little interest in following the library on social media, they indicate a growing need for online tutorials and a growing use of library LibGuides. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that the services provided by staff are seen as important and students tend to use the library mainly for individual study, research, and group study. The study supported the fact that the changes made to library spaces and services are meeting the demands of library users, although there is still room for improvement.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2017-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44252159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solomon Bopape, M. Dikotla, M. Mahlatji, M. Ntsala, L. Makgahlela
{"title":"Identifying the information needs of public library and information services users in Limpopo province","authors":"Solomon Bopape, M. Dikotla, M. Mahlatji, M. Ntsala, L. Makgahlela","doi":"10.7553/83-1-1631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7553/83-1-1631","url":null,"abstract":"Public libraries are indispensable institutions that contribute towards the socio-economic development of every citizen in every country by providing access to information. In South Africa, the provision of access to information through public libraries was marred by the inequalities of the apartheid laws. In order to address past injustices regarding access to information, the government of today, through the Department of Arts and Culture, is committed to allocating an annual library conditional grant to all the nine provinces to build and develop new and already existing public libraries, respectively. This study investigated the information needs of people who use these newly built and developed public libraries and information centres in Limpopo Province. The questionnaire was distributed to the library users of selected public libraries in Limpopo Province to collect information about their basic information needs and expectations. The results showed that the majority of public libraries and information services users in Limpopo Province are the youth and young adults, who specifically use these libraries and information services for study space and accessing the internet. The kind of information required by these youth, young adults and adults revolves around health matters, education programmes, career guidance and crime prevention. It is therefore recommended that library users be made aware of other services offered by public libraries and that user needs analysis studies be conducted from time to time in order for public libraries to meet the ever-changing needs of library users.","PeriodicalId":43496,"journal":{"name":"South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.3,"publicationDate":"2017-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45158385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}