The Impact of COVID-19 on Academic Library Service Delivery in Zimbabwe

The higher and tertiary education system was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic leading to tremendous changes in service delivery in academic libraries. All the higher education stakeholders were affected including lecturers, students, researchers, and librarians, and they were forced to adjust accordingly in order to remain relevant. A survey was done using a multiple case study design where online questionnaires were distributed and participant observation were used to collect data from three academic libraries in Zimbabwe. It was discovered that academic libraries changed the way they deliver their services to meet the new demands when teaching and learning was shifted to online as a way of curbing the spreading of the virus. The author recommends that academic librarians should be continuously trained to deal with the skills gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need to provide appropriate information and communication technology infrastructure and the supporting policies and guidelines for academic libraries to continue supporting the research, teaching and learning activities in the COVID-19 environment

Research Data Management in Research Institutions in Zimbabwe

The research was aimed at evaluating how research data are being managed in research institutions in Zimbabwe. The study also sought to assess the challenges that are faced in research data management by research institutions in Zimbabwe. Twenty five institutions of higher learning and other organisations that deal with research were selected using purposive sampling to participate in the study. An online questionnaire on SurveyMonkey was sent to the selected participants and telephone interviews were done to follow up on participants who failed to respond on time. Data that were collected using interviews were entered manually into SurveyMonkey for easy analysis. It was found out that proper research data management is not being done. Researchers were managing their own research data. Most of the research data were in textual and spreadsheet format. Graphical, audio, video, database, structured text formats and software applications research data were also available. Lack of guidelines on good practice, inadequate human resources, technological obsolescence, insecure infrastructure, use of different vocabulary between librarians and researchers, inadequate financial resources, absence of research data management policies and lack of support by institutional authorities and researchers negatively impacted on research data management. Authors recommend the establishment of research data repositories and use of existing research data repositories that are registered with the Registry of Research Data Repositories to ensure that research data standards are adhered to when doing research

Survival strategies employed by state university libraries in Zimbabwe in the face of limited funding

The study examined the survival strategies employed by state university libraries in Zimbabwe in the face of limited funding in 2014-2018. Financial and other challenges have had adverse effects on the provision of effective library services in most academic libraries world over. This study explored the funding models used by state university libraries in Zimbabwe and established fund raising strategies employed by such libraries. The research was qualitative in nature and used a multiple case-study methodology focusing on eight university libraries which were purposively selected. The data was collected using face to face and telephone interviews, and document analysis. The data was analysed using the Taguette Software and graphs and tables were used to present the findings. The study findings acknowledged state university libraries efforts and initiatives in resource mobilization though limited. Most of these libraries expected much more funding from the mother institutions through annual budget allocations and grants, and very minimal fundraising activities were done. The study recommends that state university libraries work together with other libraries and push for the revision and revamp of the National Library and Documentation Services Act of 1985. The revision of this Act and its revamp to suit the current 21st century information needs could aid in the financing and development of academic libraries and other libraries in Zimbabwe at large. State university libraries should also put more effort into seeking unrestricted fundraising activities. The authors proposed a Three Layer Library Survival Strategies (TLLSS) Model for adoption by libraries facing funding challenges

Knowledge Sharing for Professional Growth: Views from Academic Librarians in Zimbabwe

Knowledge sharing activities are indicators for professional growth. It consists of inconceivable diverse and complex patterns through which professionals gain more from each other. This type of knowledge sharing experience is essential for professional growth. Ordinarily, except engage in certain activities, professionals do not benefit much from each other. The process that unfold in what the professionals know best is through the process of sharing tacit knowledge. Librarianship as a profession is at its critical point where issues to contend with emerges, based on current trends in library and information sciences. The dynamics that surround users’ diverse information needs and technological changes have become critical factors to consider. Librarians in the academic environment in Zimbabwe have no option than to tap into the newly launched Zimbabwe Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP). This programme lay emphasis on quality service delivery and research collaboration. This article therefore investigates how knowledge sharing can strengthen librarians’ resilience and innovative drive to adjust to constant change. The quantitative research approach was employed in this study. The quantitative (survey) collected data from respondents through the questionnaire instrument. The data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Findings from the data gathered revealed that, innovative strategies for current and future practices on knowledge sharing among librarians were infused. The knowledge sharing patterns among librarians in Zimbabwe has becomes more deepened. Proposed ways in rendering services in line with current trends in professional development have created more awareness among academic librarians such that, professional associations and their special interest groups (SIG) have place emphasis on the importance of knowledge sharing. Cooperation and collaboration becomes the cornerstone for the survival of professionals in a digital economy. Several factors such as lack of support from institutions, negative attitude among others has interfered with knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing has also brought unprecedented opportunities for professional growth. The study recommends praxis-oriented strategies through which capacity building in knowledge sharing be attained in the different university libraries in Zimbabwe

Papers for consideration

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Future models and architecture of data repositories in African Universities

&lt;p&gt;As presented at the 3rd IASSIST Africa Regional Workshop in 2023.&lt;/p&gt

Research Data Management in Research Institutions in Zimbabwe

The research was aimed at evaluating how research data are being managed in research institutions in Zimbabwe. The study also sought to assess the challenges that are faced in research data management by research institutions in Zimbabwe. Twenty five institutions of higher learning and other organisations that deal with research were selected using purposive sampling to participate in the study. An online questionnaire on SurveyMonkey was sent to the selected participants and telephone interviews were done to follow up on participants who failed to respond on time. Data that were collected using interviews were entered manually into SurveyMonkey for easy analysis. It was found out that proper research data management is not being done. Researchers were managing their own research data. Most of the research data were in textual and spreadsheet format. Graphical, audio, video, database, structured text formats and software applications research data were also available. Lack of guidelines on good practice, inadequate human resources, technological obsolescence, insecure infrastructure, use of different vocabulary between librarians and researchers, inadequate financial resources, absence of research data management policies and lack of support by institutional authorities and researchers negatively impacted on research data management. Authors recommend the establishment of research data repositories and use of existing research data repositories that are registered with the Registry of Research Data Repositories to ensure that research data standards are adhered to when doing research

Use of altmetrics in allocating research grants

<p>Slides presented by Josline Chigwada at the 3:AM conference in Bucharest, exploring the use of altmetrics in research evalautuon amongst Zimbabwean institutions. </p><p><br></p

Knowledge Sharing for Professional Growth: Views from Academic Librarians in Zimbabwe

Knowledge sharing activities are indicators for professional growth. It consists of inconceivable diverse and complex patterns through which professionals gain more from each other. This type of knowledge sharing experience is essential for professional growth. Ordinarily, except engage in certain activities, professionals do not benefit much from each other. The process that unfold in what the professionals know best is through the process of sharing tacit knowledge. Librarianship as a profession is at its critical point where issues to contend with emerges, based on current trends in library and information sciences. The dynamics that surround users’ diverse information needs and technological changes have become critical factors to consider. Librarians in the academic environment in Zimbabwe have no option than to tap into the newly launched Zimbabwe Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP). This programme lay emphasis on quality service delivery and research collaboration. This article therefore investigates how knowledge sharing can strengthen librarians’ resilience and innovative drive to adjust to constant change. The quantitative research approach was employed in this study. The quantitative (survey) collected data from respondents through the questionnaire instrument. The data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Findings from the data gathered revealed that, innovative strategies for current and future practices on knowledge sharing among librarians were infused. The knowledge sharing patterns among librarians in Zimbabwe has becomes more deepened. Proposed ways in rendering services in line with current trends in professional development have created more awareness among academic librarians such that, professional associations and their special interest groups (SIG) have place emphasis on the importance of knowledge sharing. Cooperation and collaboration becomes the cornerstone for the survival of professionals in a digital economy. Several factors such as lack of support from institutions, negative attitude among others has interfered with knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing has also brought unprecedented opportunities for professional growth. The study recommends praxis-oriented strategies through which capacity building in knowledge sharing be attained in the different university libraries in Zimbabwe

The role of Edge/Fog computing security in IoT and Industry 4.0 infrastructures: Edge/Fog-based security in Internet of Things

The development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has led to many innovative technologies. The integration of technologies such as the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, and machine learning concepts have given rise to Industry 4.0. Fog and edge computing have stepped in to fill the areas where cloud computing is inadequate to ensure these systems work quickly and efficiently. The number of connected devices has brought about cybersecurity issues. This study reviewed the current literature regarding edge/fog-based cybersecurity in IoT to display the current state