Evans Wema | University of Dar es Salaam (original) (raw)

Papers by Evans Wema

Information development, Feb 28, 2024

The Journal of Academic Librarianship

University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, Jul 18, 2022

University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, 2016

This is a baseline study of researchers' awareness, access and use of locally published academic ... more This is a baseline study of researchers' awareness, access and use of locally published academic journals. Specifically the study addressed the following research questions: to what extent researchers in Tanzanian public universities awareness of the available indexed and nonindexed scholarly journals? What problems do researchers encounter when accessing local journals? And what are the researchers' usage patterns of locally published journals? The study was conducted in five universities, which are:

University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, Mar 14, 2019

This paper reports on a study conducted at the University of Dar es Salaam library to determine w... more This paper reports on a study conducted at the University of Dar es Salaam library to determine whether or not library customers are satisfied with services related to access and use of electronic resources. A total of 70 postgraduate students filled out an online questionnaire with both open and close-ended questions; however, 53 of the respondents returned the filled-in questionnaires. The findings revealed that most users were at the coursework stage and are mainly interested in various web-based electronic resources for the purpose of answering assignment questions while a few are interested in using subscribed to journal articles to assist with their research work and writing up dissertations. The findings further revealed that while there is generally satisfaction with how librarians offered services related to access and use of electronic resources, a number of challenges were encountered including lack of appropriate communication skills among librarians who handle customers, limited human resources, slow response rates from librarians and problems related to limited number of computers, slow Internet connectivity, electricity power supply. It was recommended that library services related to access and use of electronic resources should be re-designed to enable librarians serve customers better by utilizing appropriate customer-service related skills.

Information Development, Sep 4, 2022

University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal

This study has established the perceived benefits and barriers of using online journal systems (O... more This study has established the perceived benefits and barriers of using online journal systems (OJS). A descriptive research design alongside a quantitative approach was used to establish perceived benefits and barriers of using online journal systems among University of Dar es Salaam faculty members. In the study data were gathered through survey questionnaires. The data were then organized and summarized through descriptive statistics in form of frequencies and percentages. The study reveals that a significant number of faculty members infrequently use the systems in their scholarly communication. Along this, the study reveals various benefits of using OJS as perceived by faculty members. The study also reveals diverse perceived barriers that undermine effective use of the systems. These include low internet bandwidth and technical difficulties. The study recommends that the UDSM has to take deliberate measures to enhance internet services through increasing bandwidth, alongside i...

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science

The present study examines the extent of academic librarians’ teaching, research, communication, ... more The present study examines the extent of academic librarians’ teaching, research, communication, and interpersonal skills; key competencies required for the successful implementation of embedded librarianship in Tanzania. A mixed research approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches, was deployed to guide the collection of data from 166 librarians and 6 directors. Whereas cross-section survey questionnaires were used to collect data from librarians from six university libraries. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to collect data from directors. Regarding statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were performed to derive frequencies and percentages from quantitative data collected. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented in narrative form. The findings suggest that librarians’ teaching skills and their knowledge of the research cycle are inadequate, while their communication and interpersonal skills are sufficient to allow...

The extent to which academic staff and researchers are aware of and use online journal publishing... more The extent to which academic staff and researchers are aware of and use online journal publishing systems to publish their work is not very well known. The present study examines awareness and use of online journal management and publishing systems by University of Dar es Salaam academic staff. A cross-sectional descriptive research design alongside a mixed research approach (i.e. quantitative and qualitative) was used to examine awareness and use of online journal publishing systems by the UDSM academic staff. Data gathered through questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages helped to organise and summarise research data. The study findings suggest that awareness of online journal publishing systems does not match with frequency of using the systems. Occasionally use of the systems is an indication of ineffective usage. The findings also reveal diverse barriers that undermine the effective use of online journal publish system. The study recommends that the UDSM has to take deliberate measures to enhance internet services through increasing bandwidth, internet cables and network systems alongside increasing training on the use of online journal systems, writing, referencing and citation skills.

University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, 2020

The study examined factors influencing efforts towards developing research capacity in Higher Edu... more The study examined factors influencing efforts towards developing research capacity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Tanzania. A mixed research approach (quantitative and qualitative) was employed in the study. Accordingly, a cross-sectional survey using questionnaires and semi-structured interview was used to collect primary data from simple randomly and purposively selected academic staff. The study findings show that competences, knowledge, and experiences in conducting research are the attributes that faculty members acquire through short training aimed to enhance competences in conducting research. Factors promoting research capacity development include presence of research policy and awareness of it, motivation to conduct research, availability and adequacy of research funds. Challenges faced were insufficient research skills, poor collaboration between senior and junior academic staff, and lack of proactiveness and commitment in conducting research. The study recom...

The aim of the research was to develop a training course that inculcated infonnation literacy tha... more The aim of the research was to develop a training course that inculcated infonnation literacy that could be implemented by staff at the University of Dar es Salaam library (Tanzania), in order to provide students with appropriate infonnation literacy skills to meet their educational goals. The course was developed from an integration of knowledge from infonnation behaviour research and educational theory with current perspectives of infonnation literacy from Infonnation and Library Science (ILS). The ultimate goal of the research was to create a framework that would be used by public university libraries in Tanzania to teach infonnation literacy courses. The study was carried out in two parts. In the first implementation "pilot" programme, the course was tested by involving librarians who took the entire course, in order to see whether the same course structure could be used to implement to the Masters of Education students. Following adaptations made on the first course, ...

The training-the-trainer approach to workshops can be very effective, providing both a strong und... more The training-the-trainer approach to workshops can be very effective, providing both a strong understanding of the subject material and developing the skills necessary to pass it on. However, participants often come from varied backgrounds and go on to train groups with specific, or equally varied, needs. This case study examines initiatives in Tanzania that enabled Information Literacy teaching methods to be adapted and applied to a variety of audiences.

University of Dar es Salaam Library journal, 2019

International Information & Library Review, 2016

ABSTRACT Health information skills in an electronic environment are essential to health science l... more ABSTRACT Health information skills in an electronic environment are essential to health science librarians, who serve as educators both within and outside of their health training institutions. This reflective study was conducted to examine the application of online health information skills obtained from the training provided for librarians who are working in health settings. Health sciences librarians, as future information skills educators, therefore need to possess their own health information skill sets. Capacity building is vital in order to promote the development of health information skills for health sciences librarians who can then teach and advocate the concept of health information skills on the Internet within and outside of their places of work.

University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal, 2022

The study examines HIV/AIDS information research conducted in Tanzania for the period of 20 years... more The study examines HIV/AIDS information research conducted in Tanzania for the period of 20 years between2001 and 2020.Specifically, the study identifies studies’ settings and focus, and the HIV/AIDS information challenges reported in them. The study used metadata analysis design where 20 studies on HIV/AIDS information carried in Tanzania were reviewed. Microsoft Office Excel 2010 was used to analyse the data quantitatively. The study has found that most of the reviewed studies were conducted in urban areas. The studies were mostly set in communities and health centres and targeted people living with HIV/AIDS and health workers. Topic-wise the studies focused on access to and use of HIV/AIDS information and HIV/AIDS information dissemination. The most common challenges that affect HIV/AIDS information access based on reports made by the reviewed studies are inadequate information systems and structure, lack of information search skills and lack of information and library services. ...

Library and Information Science, 2013

Abstract This is a review of information literacy interventions which focused on fostering inform... more Abstract This is a review of information literacy interventions which focused on fostering information literacy skills for agriculturalists and health practitioners in Tanzania. The purpose of the intervention was to impart information literacy skills to agriculturalists and health professionals based on problem-solving and collaborative approaches through pedagogical theories of Kolb and Vygotsky which emphasize experiential and reflective learning as well as mediated communication. The interventions were based on an integration of knowledge from information behaviour research and educational theory and current Information and library science perspectives of information literacy. This was preceded by a survey which collected data on information literacy needs of agriculturalists and health practitioners in order to determine what should be taught in information literacy courses for both categories of professionals. The interventions were evaluated through exercises, reflective discussions and observations of activities. Diagnostic tests were also carried out before and after the interventions to provide an indication of knowledge changes. It was generally discovered that both categories of practitioners lacked information literacy skills and had a dire need for the same to effectively perform their work. Work experiences of participants as well as problems associated with lack of information to perform assigned tasks in their occupations were motivational factors for their active participation in the courses. Judging from participants’ feedback, the courses were effective. Participants were able to demonstrate their abilities to solve a particular information-related problem through collaborative learning and work experience. It is recommended that information literacy courses in work places should focus on work-related information problems and active participation.