Academic literature on the topic 'University of Zambia. Library'

The core business of higher education institutions such as universities is knowledge production. This is achieved by conducting research which results in various research products being produced, as well as through teaching and the production of graduates. The main objective of the study was to explore and describe knowledge production practices and their attributes within a university environment at the University of Zambia. The study's major contribution to knowledge is that it indicates to what extent this objective is achieved. A mixed methods case study approach that used both quantitative and qualitative research methodology was adopted for the study. The mixed methods analysis framework was based on grounded theory, bibliometric techniques, and concurrent triangulation. The site of investigation was the School of Medicine at the University of Zambia. The sampling technique also adopted a mixed methods approach by using purposive, availability and stratified purposeful sampling to sample the respondents. The PubMed/Medline database, academic staff, key informants and the documents reviewed all served as the key sources of information for the study. Data obtained from PubMed/Medline, questionnaires and semi structured interviews were quantitatively analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, while the more qualitative information that was gleaned from open-ended questions, semi-structured interviews and documentary sources was analysed thematically. The subject analysis of PubMed/Medline articles was done using the VOSviewer software and Microsoft Excel. The findings reveal that the yearly research output from 1995 to 2015 was 281 scholarly papers in 159 journals. The lowest number of papers published were recorded in 1997, 2000, and 2004 while the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 show the highest number of papers per year; and the highest was recorded in 2015. It was found that, except in 1997 and 2000, most of these papers were authored by more than five researchers. This indicates a high degree of collaboration. The journals in which the academic staff were publishing in emanated from all over the world; Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The journals themselves are also a combination of both high impact factor journals such as the PLoS One, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, The Lancet, Malaria Journal and those with no impact factor like the Medical Journal of Zambia. The results indicate that the respondents mostly investigated and published in subject fields related to diseases most prevalent in Zambia, i.e. HIV and Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis. In addition, the findings indicate that the majority of the academic staff were born after 1960 (73%), with high digital information retrieval skills (95.2%), and with their research output published mainly in journals. The knowledge was produced for various reasons: 85.4% for research purposes, 80.5% for academic promotion, 80.5% for production of knowledge, 73.2% to improve teaching, 61% to provide evidence, 51.2% to change practice, 41.5% to improve policy, 41.5% for personal advancement, and 24.4% for research funding. The knowledge was produced ethically, advancing scholarship, and deemed to be beneficial to society. The overall conclusion drawn from the study is that the knowledge productivity of the School of Medicine has steadily increased over the years and that this is supported by various institutional policies. Additionally, there is increased collaboration with persons outside the continent, whilst there is less collaboration with countries in Africa. The key recommendation for the School of Medicine is that it should work with and within the various layers of the university's institutions such as the Library, Directorate of Research and Graduate Studies, University of Zambia Press, and the Centre for Information and Communication Technology. This would ensure that impediments to knowledge production, diffusion and utilisation are mitigated.

The aim of my thesis is to investigate three different reading projects, which have been set up to promote reading among school children in Zambia. I have used my field study together with some general observations to draw some lessons on the obstacles and challenges present in Zambia in relating literacy to culture among young people. In identifying these lessons, I have drawn on a theoretical framework which relates literacy to a cultural meaning system, addresses the importance of social interaction, as well as distinguishing between experienced and instrumental reading. My methods have been observations and semi-structured interviews with organisers, teachers and students involved in the three projects. The interviews have been based on four research questions. These have been used to solicit the opinions about the reading projects, what challenges they have confronted, what the participating children actually read, and the views and attitudes towards reading as reflected within the projects. In my study I found that two of the projects had adopted an approach in which social interaction was an essential element to promote reading. My study revealed that an instrumental attitude dominated towards reading, partly explained by what books were being supplied. I further concluded that one important obstacle for promoting literacy was related to the use of foreign language as an educational tool, and hence seen as providing a “social ladder”, as compared to the vernacular language.

Mestrado em Administração e Gestão Pública<br>Este estudo examina em termos gerais a qualidade do serviço prestado pela biblioteca da Universidade de Aveiro em Portugal baseado na perspetiva dos utilizadores da biblioteca com o intuito de investigar quais são os atributos essenciais para os quais os gestores da biblioteca devem alocar recursos de forma a garantir um serviço de qualidade e como é que se comporta o ranking da biblioteca em termos da perceção da qualidade do serviço prestado. Neste trabalho também são analisados os problemas que os utilizadores encontram quando utilizam os serviços prestados pela Biblioteca. Os questionários Libqual+ foram distribuídos com o intuído de se recolher informação no campus da Universidade numa relação direta com os participantes. Entre os participantes no estudo participaram Estudantes, Professores e Colaboradores da biblioteca. As conclusões deste estudo mostram que nem todas as necessidades dos utilizadores são satisfeitas. Através da relação entre atributos e análise de dados foram extraídas três dimensões principais do programa Libqual+: “Affect of Service”, “Information control” e “Library as Place”. Os resultados revelam que os itens mais problemáticos se relacionam com os atributos físicos do serviço. As dimensões analisadas classificam-se como: muito bom para a “Affect of Service”, bom para “Information Control” e mau ou fraco para “Library as Place”. De acordo com a perceção dos utilizadores, as questões que obtiveram melhores resultados relacionam-se com os colaboradores da biblioteca. Finalmente, são apresentadas algumas recomendações para a biblioteca no sentido de melhorar a qualidade do serviço prestado.<br>This study examines the overall service quality at the main library of Aveiro University in Potugal based on library users’ perspectives to investigate which are the essential attributes that library managers should allocate the resource for good service quality and how is the ranking of library as a result of research in terms of perceived service quality. The problems users had encountered when involved in library service are also explored in this study. The Libqual+ program questionnaires were distributed for data gathering in campus area of university in a face-to-face relationship with respondents. A survey of Students, Professors and Staff was used. Several insights gained from this study shown that all users’ desired expectations are not met. Three main dimensions of Libqual+; "Affect of Service", "Information Control", and "Library as Place" were extracted by related attributes and data analyzing. The results reveal that the most problematic items are about physical service attributes. The dimensions were classified as very good for "Affect of Service", good for "Information Control” and bad or weak for "Library as Place". According the users ideas the highest ranking of questions belongs to library workers. Finally, recommendations are presented to library in order to improve the quality of the provided service.

<p>This research project is a comparative study of management of two university libraries (University of the Western Cape and Dhaka University) from two different countries (South Africa and Bangladesh). This research was to identify and document how the functions of management are applied in both libraries.</p> <p><br /> A sample of the two university libraries&rsquo<br>users, librarians, and library staff were taken. The questionnaire, interview, observation and documentary sources of information were major methods of data collection. In order to provide a brief presentation on how the management functions were applied at other university libraries, a description of how some university libraries in the U.K, U.S.A, Eastern countries and Africa are given. The findings of the study revealed that the problem of inadequate financial support is true for both University libraries, and is the major cause amongst other weaknesses. Both libraries still use a large percentage of non-professional staff and the library service is in desperate need of personnel. However, the observed difference between DUL and UWCL in this comparative study was significant. Services offered in both libraries differ in some cases such as: Consortia, Inter library loans, OPAC, CD-search, e-journals and multimedia. These areas still need to be developed at DUL. UWC have the most of these facilities. Although it needs to improve on aspects such as e-journals, access to data-bases and open access on the Internet.</p>

The focus of this study was to establish the knowledge use and Knowledge Management (KM) maturity among the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Sector in Zambia. This is a domain that has received little attention in the Zambian business and economics literature, partially because of the newness of KM as a business concept. Knowledge Management is a very important aspect as far as innovation and competitiveness are concerned in the knowledge economy. Since the inception of the open market economy in Zambia in 1992 and the move to diversify Zambia's national economy from state control into private hands, the MSMEs still seem to be struggling with lack of innovation and competitiveness. Despite several attempts to boost the sector's viability, little success has been recorded.

Information technology is playing a vital role in our every field of life. The most common use of information is in the field of education. Use of information technology in libraries is very important. People from differents works of life extract information from these libraries. In this paper, we have tried to identify how can we facilitate the Umeå university library users for better interaction with the information? We have used different methods for collection of data to identify the Umeå university libray problems and then we analysed the whole library system with the help of Engeström Activity theory, to find out which factors are effeting the interaction between users and library and creating main problems. In the end we have given some suggestions for the improvement of interaction between users and Umeå library to facilitate them for accessing information.

Bibliography: leaves 251-262.<br>The investigation was undertaken to establish, in the first place, whether it is correct to assume that university library managers in South Africa do understand the main tenets of marketing. Secondly, the investigation was undertaken to determine whether these librarians actually do implement some or all of the principles of marketing in the management of their libraries. The study was carried out in two parts: a literature survey and an empirical investigation. The investigation was confined to university libraries in South Africa. The literature survey of the relevant marketing literature had a twofold purpose. In the first place, the marketing of libraries could only be properly appreciated within the context of understanding what is meant by marketing. Secondly, it was an underlying assumption of the investigation that in order to determine whether the management of South African university libraries did understand and apply the principles of marketing, the questions posed to them in the survey would of necessity have to reflect the principles, concepts, terminology and techniques of marketing, as established in the literature survey. The survey of marketing literature therefore endeavoured to establish clearly the main tenets of marketing and the techniques of marketing planning, the broadened marketing concept which has extended marketing to non-profit organizations, and, the significance of the interactive relationship of services marketing. A survey of the relevant literature of librarianship was undertaken to gain an insight into how marketing was perceived by the Anglo-American library world. It was against this broader background of the literature of librarianship that the South African experience was considered. As part of the empirical investigation a questionnaire was constructed and mailed to the respondents in order to determine whether the principles of marketing are understood and implemented by university libraries in South Africa. The analysis of the data obtained from the questionnaire indicated that the management of South African university libraries have a general understanding of the principles of marketing, although at present only a small minority have an in-depth knowledge of it. From the analysis of the data it is also apparent that South African university library managers to a greater or lesser extent do carry out some of the main activities of marketing, although, for the present, they do not necessarily consider that they are implementing formal marketing planning in their libraries. Only a small minority of university libraries are actually engaged in some formal marketing activities.