The Changing Role of Mobile Libraries In Africa (original) (raw)
Related papers
A Review of Digital Libraries and Their Impact in Africa
American Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 2019
Digital libraries, recommender systems and information retrieval are some of the most celebrated breakthroughs in the book of internet evolution. Digital libraries are referred to digital resources that are a collection of electronic materials and technical facilities used in searching, creating, and making use of information. They became important sources of information sharing which are extensions and enhancement of information storage and retrieval system used in manipulating data or materials in digital medium. This designed digital storage are used by set or group of users were they will collect and organize the said storages in a way their contents along with their usability supports the information needs of the said of group of users. These digital information resources have revolutionized many aspects of human lives that includes, in especially, the academia. This research is an attempt to show how internet has paved way for a much easier means of information sharing in various communities across the world. The paper is also an attempt to review the idea behind digital libraries and investigate the use of digital resources among African communities and their socioeconomic importance and impact to the continent. The research did also review construction and networking of digital libraries among African institutions, some of which roles are played by e-libraries and information decimation in socioeconomic development, sectorial information needs and the issues involved in the lack of establishment of these digital libraries. Lastly, after the paper reviewed works in progress across Africa, it clearly outlined that in a global neighborhood, large work needs to be done in order for African nations to use information in harnessing their full potentials
This work focused on Mobile Information Services delivery by Librarians in University Libraries in Nigeria. The Nigerian populace have overwhelmingly embraced the use of mobile devices as an integral part of their everyday lives. As at 2015, Nigeria ranks 7 th in the world list of mobile phone users and 1 st in Africa. On the world list of internet users, Nigeria is also 7 th with 86,436,611 internet users. Also, in a 2015 profiling of countries that love smartphones by e-marketers, Nigeria was ranked 17 th in the world. The need for this study was prompted after observing that most categories of people in the University communities rely much on Mobile technologies such as smart phones, cell phones, iPods, MP3 players and tablets as some of the mobile devices used in academic libraries, to locate, retrieve, evaluate and use information and the need for librarians in the University Libraries in Nigeria to assist these Information users with the use of Mobile technologies to professionally meet their Information needs. This therefore raises a question of what could be done to assist these information users in these University communities. The Study reveals that electricity failure; too many mobile devices to learn; lack of knowledge; slow speed of the internet; inadequate funds, staff and training opportunities in using mobile devices for marketing library and information products and services have been identified as some of the constraints to mobile information services delivery. Because of the mentioned problems, necessary measures should be taken as recommended by the researcher in the concluding part of this research work.
Developing countries traditionally face serious problems in accessing printed-based publications. Digital libraries are seen as a good alternative but these countries also have difficulties in using such libraries due to low computer and Internet penetration rates, lack of financial resources, poor ICT infrastructure, etc. With the current proliferation of mobile devices, a possible solution is using mobile phones for accessing digital libraries. This paper analyses the potential of using mobile phones for accessing digital libraries in the developing world, the existing challenges and possible options.
2020
Librarians are presently operating electronically in this 21st century and there is a changing role of professional librarians in the academic libraries. Information services are therefore, provided electronically to meet the information needs of thousands of users at a go. The enormous advantage it has is the ease with which the delivery of information is being carried out around the world. Nevertheless, some challenges seems to confront the effective provision of the electronic information services. Literature was reviewed on the electronic information services, provision of electronic information services by professional librarians in African continent and emerging challenges of electronic information provision services in African continent. It also examines the role of the professional librarians as information professionals in the era of information technology. The paper concludes by presenting the way forward on how electronic information services can be improved in the African Continent.
Libraries in Africa: Pioneers, Policies, Problems
The Library Quarterly, 1997
Librarians in African countries have long had a sense that all is not well in their professional field, but they have had little published guidance as to why. What is more, there has been even less written which provides clear suggestions for new approaches. Explanations of the difficulties of library work in Africa have tended to cluster around lack of funds and insufficient understanding from those in power. Proposals for the future have tended to suggest more of the same but better funded and supported. Radical voices like that of Amadi (198 1) began to offer a new analysis, arguing that the library project was a transplant from the wholly different circumstances of Europe and North America. Subsequently, a few writers, notably Mchombu (1982) and Aboyade (1984), have begun to construct a new approach springing from an analysis of specifically African needs and resources. Sturges and Neil1 (1990) intended to contribute to the synthesizing of such approaches. Although now fairly widely known, such an approach certainly does not actually dominate, as a cursory glance at the recent literature on African library work will show. Thus it is very satisfying to report the recent appearance of several important publications from different directions which make major fresh contributions. Two, other than the present volume, deserve a mention. First, the special issue of IDS Bulletin (1994) has 14 papers which, although directed at development planners and project managers, have an enormous amount to say about the kinds of information that are available, and what is useful in developing countries. Second, there is Ndiaye's (1994) line Communication ci la base. Anyone with some reading knowledge of French should get hold of a copy of this book, which will enlighten them as to the numerous projects and experiments which are making Francophone West Africa such a significant area for the development of a new African information professionalism. But drawing attention to other recent publications is not meant to diminish Tony Olden's contribution in the slightest. His book has long been awaited by those who knew of his PhD research at the University of Illinois. It is very well written and uses a number of case studies of library services to show the way in which library service in Africa has developed over the last 50 years or so. It uses case studies mainly from Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, but Olden is quite open about how this affects his ability to generalize for the whole of Africa. Because he has made extensive use of the archives of aid institutions, like the Carnegie Corporation and the British Council, the book also inevitably tends to represent the perspective of outsiders, but Olden's eyes are always open to the implications of this. In particular, he is entirely clear that, in the 1940s and 195Os, the chief beneficiaries of library services were the white minority and the "important" members of the African population. What the book also does is to show how a more consciously African library project was launched in several countries in the post-independence years. Expatriate librarians and then their local trainees and new colleagues opened and ran libraries in urban centers. They also had plans which included the expansion of service into the less
The Role of Libraries in Contemporary African Society
Library Trends, 2015
The focus of this paper is on library development in contemporary African society. A discussion of library development in the context of countries now enjoying rapid economic development is attempted here. Focusing on countries undergoing rapid economic development brings an alternative perspective to an analysis of library development in Africa and helps us to understand not only what is lacking but also what is going well as a basis for future development. The paper is divided into three parts: one that considers the contemporary landscape of librarianship in Africa; one that describes the characteristics of African society; and one that concerns the major role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have played in the renaissance of libraries in Africa. Several drivers of change in African library development stand out-most notably: 1) the achievement of stronger economic circumstances; 2) the increased prevalence of ICTs and access to the internet; 3) expanded public awareness of the value of libraries in society; and 4) partnership between the new generation of government leaders and partner agencies that are more focused on social impact than maintaining influence and dominance.
Mobile Libraries: Defining the phenomenon
International Journal of Library and Information Science, Vol. 10(3), pp. 35-40. , 2018
This article presents a brief historical review of the appearance of mobile libraries and then continues to define the phenomenon on the basis of two of its distinct features: library services and mobility, which both concern institutional Mobile Libraries and non-institutional mobile libraries. In addition, special reference is made to the significant presence of non-institutional mobile libraries in the world of books. The text closes with a short reference to the social contribution of mobile (and mobile) libraries (education and lifelong learning, entertainment, communication-connection-meeting) to everyone and, more particularly, to people with special physical and/or social needs and the necessity to support the continuation of their operation.
BEAM JOURNAL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 2019
Mobile Technology has provided faster access to and delivery of information and other related services; it is also challenging the libraries and information centers to change round, modify and upgrade their services approach by implementing the new technological changes. Nowadays all mobile devices are gradually becoming an integral part of all and sundry thereby redirecting connectivity and interactions globally with dynamic feature compare to the static state of the computer technology. From the study, Mobile Technology capabilities will greatly support all forms of information access, storage, transmission etc. and provide help to researchers and users of research content to the strengthening of their relationship and providing enhanced user oriented services to existing users. The challenges facing mobile technology were also identified with a view of recommending to developers needed areas in satisfying local users. The study discusses on the capabilities and challenges of mobile technology in general services delivery.
Journal Article, 2021
This study investigates the challenges on the applications of mobile phones for information service provision in university libraries in Kano state Nigeria. Quantitative research methodology was adopted using cross-sectional survey. Relevant data were collected from 103 librarians using questionnaire as an instrument for data collection and these were analyzed using descriptive statistics using frequency and percentages. The Findings from the study revealedthat the types of information services in their respective libraries should be provided using mobile phone technologies as well as the various mobile phone applications that should be deployed to provide such services, the librarians' responses were found to vary but majority (over 70%) of them chose almost all the services suggested in this research study. These services range from various alert and notification services, access to the libraries' databases and OPACs, book reserve services and interlibrary loans to specialized services such as SDI and CAS. All of these services have the potential to be provided through the small screens of mobile phones of users, as there is virtually no area of library service that could not be provided using mobile phones also the study reveals the challenges such as lack of technological knowhow to provide services, inadequate ICT equipment, hardware and software, lack of adequate telecommunication infrastructure, high cost of maintenance, problem with technology, lack of staff training and awareness, erratic power supply and poor internet connectivity.The study therefore recommends that the library management should be proactive in making a decision to adopt the use of mobile phone in information service provision. The study also recommends that the libraries should develop a carefully planned to address the challenges facing mobile phone