Analysing information literacy practices at selected academic libraries in Zimbabwe

South African Journal of Information Management

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Analysing information literacy practices at selected academic libraries in Zimbabwe
 
Creator Tshuma, Thakazile Chigada, Joel
 
Subject information science information literacy; academic libraries; information professionals
Description Background: Information literacy (IL) skills are significant in the knowledge and information economy because the IL skills allow information users to cope with the challenges of an evolving and complex information landscape. IL is one of the most important aspects in academic libraries because it equips university communities with the skills of finding, locating and using information effectively and efficiently.Objectives: The study focused on evaluating the IL programmes and practices, as well as the challenges of implementing IL at selected academic libraries in Zimbabwe. The objective was to establish the existing policies and skills required by institutions of higher learning to implement and teach IL.Method: Qualitative data collected using face-to-face interviews and focus group interviews were analysed with the assistance of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (Atlas. ti version 8). Participants of the study included the library directors and assistant librarians with regard to IL modules and the Zimbabwe Universities Library Consortium policy documents.Results: The results revealed that all librarians understood the importance of IL in academic libraries; however, there were no IL policies and skills in existence, either at national, consortium or institutional levels. The study revealed that Zimbabwean academic libraries used different and incoherent methods in implementing and teaching IL and that IL initiatives were confronted with a myriad of challenges.Conclusion: The study concluded that academic libraries should have IL policies in place which aid in the implementation and teaching of IL in Zimbabwean academic libraries, as well as guide all the consortium members especially on collaboration issues, teaching aspects, as well as the recognition of IL by university stakeholders other than the librarians.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2018-08-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Qualitative
Format text/html application/epub+zip application/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajim.v20i1.976
 
Source SA Journal of Information Management; Vol 20, No 1 (2018); 7 pages 1560-683X 2078-1865
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/976/1307 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/976/1306 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/976/1308 https://sajim.co.za/index.php/sajim/article/view/976/1305
 
Coverage information science and library studies knowledge economy diversity
Rights Copyright (c) 2018 Joel M. Chigada https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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