Preferred Types of Academic Websites Accessed and Used by Students at Maasai Mara University During 2012/2013 Academic Year

Advancement in technologies has led to the migration of print information to web in universities. Maasai Mara University (MMU) is investing highly on web-based information resource to meet the growing needs of their users and supplement their limited library print collection. Despite this effort, there has been low usage of academic websites by students. This paper seeks to determine range and form of academic websites accessed and used by MMU students.  The paper used the survey research design to collect the views and opinions of respondents. The target population was 4,947 students in which a sample of 362 students participated in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires and participant-observation and analyzed using descriptive and hierarchical linear methods for quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Presentation of data used descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that although the students visited varied academic websites including institutional, scholarly, research, educational and academic library websites, majority preferred scholarly websites. Study and learning, assignments and research were cited as main reasons for using academic websites. The findings established that relevancy of a site is the major determinant preference Maasai Mara University students choose when they access and use academic websites. The study concluded that Maasai Mara University students demonstrated a reasonably high level of awareness and use of academic websites. From the findings the study recommended that MMU library develops comprehensive continuous training programs that address information retrieval and literacy skills for its patrons on effective identification, selection, access and use of academic websites and that the university invest in more computer laboratories and high-speed internet bandwidth to ease access and use to academic websites. Keywords: Academic websites, websites, web-based information resources, librar

Evaluating Institutional Repositories’ (IR) capabilities for long-term preservation with a focus on content, file format and metadata practices in selected public university libraries in Kenya

The type of content and file format influences the success of digital preservation strategies. Institutional repositories are custodians of digital resources that are to be held in perpetuity necessitating the need to consider long term preservation of these resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of digital content and its metadata for long term digital preservation. The study was qualitative in nature utilizing interviews as well as document analysis. websites and IR database investigations were utilized to check on content, format and metadata adequacy. The findings revealed great inadequacies in the IRs’ capabilities to support long term preservation as evidenced by haphazard content and format selection, ingest procedures that did not consider long-term preservation as well as metadata that focused on access only. Recommendations included the need to involve archivist in develop selection and appraisal policies as well as development comprehensive metadata policies that ensured that preservation metadata was also captured as required. Creation of awareness among repository administrators to expose them to the importance of adopting open file formats and standard as well as benchmarking were also proposed. The paper provides insights into universities on the relationship between selection and processing of digital resources and their long-term preservation within the IRs in Kenya

Application of Library Service Charter in Quality Service Delivery in University Libraries

Purpose was to assess the application of library service charter in quality service delivery in university libraries with reference to the University of Nairobi Library in Kenya, and propose measures to ensure successful implementation and management of the practice. Objectives of the study were to: examine the extent of the library service charter in quality service delivery in the library, establish levels of library staff awareness, perception and responsiveness to information service delivery, assess the actualization of the matrices of the library service charter for quality improvements, establish the challenges experienced by the library in realising the commitments of the service delivery charter, and propose measures to be undertaken to ensure successful actualization of the library service charter. Mixed research methods of qualitative and quantitative design were applied in the research. The library service charter played critical role in delivery of services to the information customers, significantly enhanced information management through professionalism, staff performance, teamwork and timely feedback. The challenges experienced in implementing the service charter included low work motivation, increased workload, complexity in understanding the provisions of the charter, bureaucracy, institutional weakness, targets set inhibits performance and inadequate facilitation. There is need for elaborated information fluency programme to equip the library staff with adequate knowledge and skills on all matrices of the practice. In addition, the library should plan for capacity building, provide enough copies of the service charter to patrons, and monitor and evaluate the service charter for continuous improvement of service delivery

Implications for Access and Non-Access of Agricultural Market Information in Tharaka Nithi County

Agriculture is the mainstay of Kenyan economy. It accounts for 26% GDP and provides 18% and 42% formal and informal employment respectively. Tharaka Nithi has a population of about 400,000 persons, over 90% of whom rely on agriculture as a source of livelihood. Although surplus food production is common in the county, often farmers sell their produce at losses or lose it via post-harvest losses. Good output markets exist within the country but farmers lack sufficient knowledge to make use of them. This study aimed at establishing the importance of such information in addition to determining the challenges and opportunities for accessing the information in the County. The study sample included farmers and extension workers. Data was collected by use of semi-structured interview schedules and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that farmers make losses due to lack of information. Unscrupulous middlemen confuse farmers with distorted market information causing them to make losses. Challenges facing access to information include poor physical/technological infrastructure among others. Opportunities for improving information access exist such as use of mobile telephony to communicate information to farmers. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for increasing use of agricultural marketing information to improve farmers' livelihood

Towards Improving Agricultural Marketing Information Systems for Smallholder Farmers: A Tharaka Nithi Case

Agricultural marketing information systems play a crucial role in farmers' decision making process on production and marketing of farm produce. Farmers require easy access to relevant, up to date and adequate agricultural marketing information. The extent of access and use of agricultural marketing information systems in Tharaka Nithi and Kenya in general is not clear. Often information platforms exist but they are not accessible to the farmers, extension workers and policy makers for decision making process. This study sought to map the existing agricultural marketing information systems, assess the challenges farmers face in their access and use and propose improvements to guide development of robust easy to use and accessible agricultural marketing information systems. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed by use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings show that, a number of agricultural marketing information system platforms exist in Tharaka Nithi. Farmers who had access to relevant information on appropriate farming methods and output marketing sold their farm produce at higher prices. We have estimated the financial benefit of access to information as Ksh 460 per 90 kg bag of maize and Ksh 870 per 90 kg bag of beans. Using 10% of total land area of Tharaka Nithi to represent the high potential land allocated to maize and beans, we estimate that at the entire county level the financial benefits associated with access to information could conservatively be estimated at more than Ksh 200 million (US$ 2 million) per year. These benefits can potentially be scaled up with improved information dissemination because currently, over 50% of the farmers in the region lack access to various types of existing information packages. To address challenges, there is a need for building capacity of the farmers on importance of market information, various sources of such information and appropriate interpretation of such information as a driver for agricultural profitability. Marketing group membership is crucial for farm produce aggregation, negotiation for better prices and acquisition of farm inputs at lower costs due to economies of scale. Further, the extension workers ought to be proactive in information dissemination via platforms like Msoko, Soko-pepe and Mfarm which can reach many farmers simultaneously. The study further highlights a need for government support in development of technological and ICT infrastructure as a foundation for modern ICT based marketing information systems. The conventional dissemination method that requires direct contact between the extension workers and farmers is currently impractical due to low extension worker farmer ratio

Application of Library Service Charter in Quality Service Delivery in University Libraries

Purpose was to assess the application of library service charter in quality service delivery in university libraries with reference to the University of Nairobi Library in Kenya, and propose measures to ensure successful implementation and management of the practice. Objectives of the study were to: examine the extent of the library service charter in quality service delivery in the library, establish levels of library staff awareness, perception and responsiveness to information service delivery, assess the actualization of the matrices of the library service charter for quality improvements, establish the challenges experienced by the library in realising the commitments of the service delivery charter, and propose measures to be undertaken to ensure successful actualization of the library service charter. Mixed research methods of qualitative and quantitative design were applied in the research. The library service charter played critical role in delivery of services to the information customers, significantly enhanced information management through professionalism, staff performance, teamwork and timely feedback. The challenges experienced in implementing the service charter included low work motivation, increased workload, complexity in understanding the provisions of the charter, bureaucracy, institutional weakness, targets set inhibits performance and inadequate facilitation. There is need for elaborated information fluency programme to equip the library staff with adequate knowledge and skills on all matrices of the practice. In addition, the library should plan for capacity building, provide enough copies of the service charter to patrons, and monitor and evaluate the service charter for continuous improvement of service delivery

Green initiatives towards environmental sustainability: Insights from libraries in Kenya

Environmental protection is an increasingly pressing issue all over the world. Ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect, global climate change and global warming are among the rising environmental concerns. The increasing number of environmentally conscious consumers has resulted in numerous Go Green campaigns and a Go Green movement, along with solutions and calls for consumers, corporations and governments to be more proactive in going green in every aspect. Libraries are no exception. Although it is so important, little is known about the green-library concept in the African context and among Kenyan libraries. Like some other developing countries, Kenya has responded to climate change in various ways because of its adverse impacts. It is important to explore how libraries are planning for a sustainable future. Subsequently, this study aimed to explore the adoption of green-library concepts in Kenya for environmental sustainability with a view to proposing strategies that can be used to guide libraries in going green. The study adopted a qualitative approach. A sample of 12 libraries was purposively drawn from a population of 227 academic, public and special libraries in Kenya. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules complemented by observation and a document review, and analysed using grounded theory. The findings show that libraries in Kenya, under their umbrella organizations, have taken advantage of their knowledge of green concepts through adopting and implementing green practices and coming up with strategies to enhance green libraries and promote environmental sustainability. They have done this mainly through redesigning and renovating to meet ever-changing user demands in line with green-library standards. The study concludes that librarians in Kenyan libraries understand green-building concepts and have adopted different green initiatives, albeit partially to reposition and maintain their position globally. The study proposes three strategies for fully going green: active user involvement in green initiatives; improving performance and growth measuring metrics; and maintaining green-library standards in accordance with the IFLA’s Environment, Sustainability and Libraries Section (ENSULIB) green-library checklist

The Emergence of Green Libraries in Kenya: Insights From Academic Libraries

Environmental protection is an increasingly pressing issue all over the world. Ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect, global climate changes, and global warming are among rising environmental concerns. During a recent climate change conference, i.e., COP 26 in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021, the Glasgow climate pact was unveiled to drive action across the globe on mitigation- reducing emissions; adaptation – helping those already affected by climate change, finance – enabling countries to deliver on their climate goals and collaboration- working together to deliver even more significant action. Libraries have not been left behind and are engaging in green initiatives to lessen global warming and safeguard the environment through the green library initiative (Singh & Mishra, 2019). Librarians are slowly becoming eco-conscious and developing the sense of creating libraries that minimize power consumption and become energy efficient and environmentally friendly to attain sustainable libraries or green libraries. There is limited research on green initiatives in libraries in Africa, although a lot is being done in some libraries to ensure environmental sustainability. A case study of academic libraries in Kenya was done to establish the perspectives of librarians on going green and levels of adoption while also exploring the motivations and barriers to environmental sustainability championed by libraries. Through purposive sampling, the study looked at ten academic libraries in Kenya that are perceived to be either partially or fully green. Head librarians of these institutions were taken through interviews to explore the adoption of green initiatives. Observation and document review were also used in the mixed methods case study