Electronic Information Seeking Among LIS Postgraduate Students at Makerere University, Uganda

Without clearly understanding the users’ level of usage of resources, attitudes and the e-resources literacy levels, it is difficult to promote reading in electronic environment. Developing countries within their limited library resources need to ensure that the e-resources acquired or subscribed to are optimally used. It is on that basis that the study was designed and conducted among the postgraduate Library and Information Science (LIS) students of Makerere University, Uganda to establish the level of computer skills of its LIS postgraduate students; determine the use of electronic information resources; their attitudes towards e-resources; access; their e-resources literacy levels and propose strategies to improve on e-resources use. Survey research technique was used. The data collected using structured questionnaire were analysed using Excel Software to generate the frequencies, percentages and pie charts. Results of the study established that LIS postgraduate students have varied computer skills. Working on coursework/assignments, looking for opportunities and e-mail use top the main reasons as to why they use e-resources. Among the e-resources that the University Library subscribes to, Emerald and Blackwell-Synergy are the most accessed. The study also established that the respondents have positive attitude towards e-resources and feel that their standard of academic work would suffer without e-resources. The respondents proposed different strategies to improve on e-resources in the University. Among the different proposals suggested to promote e-resources in the University are the integration of the Phone short text message services and insistence by the LIS lecturers for students to use e-resources in coursework/assignments. The respondents however did not support the idea of introducing e-resources fees to be paid by students. The study concludes that a concerted effort is needed by both lecturers of LIS postgraduate students and university librarians to promote e-resources. Joint effort is required if optimum reading in electronic environment is to be achieved. It should not be seen as the work of the university librarians alone. The study will help to develop access to critical data that can help academic libraries make decisions regarding e-services and resources. It will also develop data-rich evidence for the library users that the academic library serves attesting to the value of the library-enabled networked services and e-resources

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RESOURCES UTILIZATION BY STUDENTS IN MBARARA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

This study assessed the utilization of electronic information resources in Mbarara University Library by students by addressing four objectives namely; identifying the availability e-resources in Mbarara University library, determining the extent of use and the relevance of e-resources in Mbarara University library and lastly proposing strategies to promote the usage of e-resources by students. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to elicit data from library staff and undergraduate students from four faculties of Mbarara University. Two hundred and sixty six respondents participated in the study. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, document analysis and interview guide. The study found that utilization of e-resources was not only affected by lack of computer skills and information literacy skills but also lack of enough computers and slow internet connectivity. The frequency of use of these resources indicated that a lot need to be done to increase e-resource us

Beneath the bandwidth: Exploring Africa’s information divide. Paper delivered at the 11th DIS Annual Conference 2010, 2-3 September 2010, Richardsbay, University of Zululand, South Africa. http://www.lis.uzulu.ac.za/research/conferences/2010/Dis% 20confer

Abstract This paper uses the metaphor "beneath the bandwidth" to explore Africa's information exclusion in the face of new information innovations. As innovations in information keep advancing, bringing greater comfort, sophistication, speed and ease of access, and as technologies grow smaller, the divide simultaneously keeps widening in Africa. The question is, what can and should Africa do

Sources of business information and means of access used by SMEs in Uganda : the case of Northern Uganda

This article is a result of part of the doctoral study Business Information Systems Design for Uganda’s Economic Development: The Case of SMEs in Northern Uganda. The study was conducted in 2005/06 to identify the sources of business information used by small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), rate these sources according to their usefulness in meeting the information needs of SMEs, determine the means of access to business information, and propose appropriate sources and means of access to business information for consideration in the design of a business information system (BIS). It was assumed that northern Uganda is lagging behind because of a lack of appropriate strategies for empowering SMEs as an engine of economic growth, including using information as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation. Through the use of a descriptive design, the study identified and recommended the business information sources necessary for SMEs and the appropriate means that should be adopted in order for a BIS to enable SMEs in northern Uganda to access relevant business information. The article has six sections. Section one provides an introduction, an overview of SMEs in Uganda, and a situational analysis of Uganda’s economic development, especially northern Uganda. Section two covers a brief general literature review while section three delineates the methodology applied. Section four presents the findings that are discussed in section five. Strategic interventions are proposed in section six. To enable access to various business information sources using various means, one of the key recommendations is the adoption of Internet-based services with the integration of an interactive business planner, an online small business workshop, the business start-up assistant, info-guides, an e-mail service, and Talk to BIS services.Published versio