Information Studies
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Item Access to Electronic Library Resources and Services in Academic and Research Institutions in Tanzania(International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), 2008) Manda, Paul A.Item Africanist Librarianship in an Era of Change(Taylor & Francis, 2007) Nawe, Julita; Evalds, Vicki; Henige, DavidItem Assessing the Information Needs and Information Sources of Urban and Peri-urban Livestock Keepers in Kinondoni and Morogoro Urban Districts, Tanzania.(2016) Angello, Consolata; Msuya, Jangawe; Matovelo, Doris S.This paper discusses the information needs of urban and peri-urban livestock keepers and the various information sources used and their effectiveness in disseminating livestock information. Mixed method approach was the methodology used in the study whereby quantitative data was gathered using questionnaires while qualitative data was gathered using in-depth interviews and participant observations. Findings from this study revealed that livestock keepers had various information needs such as disease control (95.3%), nutrition and feeds (62.2%), markets (56.3%), housing techniques (29.1%) and loans (20.1%). Urban livestock keepers also used different sources of information to access information including veterinary shops (77.2%), extension services (63.8%), fellow livestock keepers (40.2%), print sources (39.8%) agricultural exhibitions (29.1%) and seminars (12.6%). It was concluded that most urban livestock keepers do benefit from various information sources (especially veterinary shops and extension officers) to access livestock information. The study recommended for improvement and regulation of policies concerning extension and veterinary services through relevant bodies for enhanced access to information on livestock husbandry, in order to improve the livestock husbandry practices and increase productivity for economic development.Item Availability And Usage Of Icts And E-Resources By Livestock Researchers In Tanzania: Challenges And Ways Forward Consolata Angello, Sokoine University Of …(2010-01) Wema, Evans F.A study was conducted to investigate the accessibility and use of e-resources in Tanzania. The methodology adopted for the study was survey in which questionnaires, interviews and observations were used in collection of the data. A total of 50 respondents participated in the study. The study revealed that livestock research institutes in Tanzania had very few e-resources for their researchers. It was concluded that most livestock researchers were not aware of most of the e-resources available hence they could not access and use them effectively in their research work. The researchers recommended for improvement of internet connectivity to enable efficient information searching from the internet.Item Beer Brewing in Utengule-Usangu Village(1987) Nkhoma-Wamunza, Alice G.Item Book Review Research in Information Sciences: An African Perspective By Aina LO (2002)(2002) Nkhoma-Wamunza, Alice G.Item Causes of Death in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case Study of Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam(1994) Msuya, JangaweThis paper is based on the findings of a study conducted in Dar es Salaam in 1993. The objective of the study was to investigate causes of death in sub- Saharan Africa, and Tanzania was taken as a case study. Data were collected from the Medical Records Department, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, the largest hospital in Tanzania. It is a referral hospital, admitting patients from regional hospitals all over the country. 10 major killer diseases were identified for infants, children and adults. Death records for the year 1989 were used in the survey. This is the year that had the latest complete record of deaths at the center when the survey was conducted. The first part of the paper is an introduction that presents "the concept of death" as spelled out by the WHO. The second part forms the thrust of the paper. It presents and discusses the causes of death for each category, including a brief presentation on maternal mortality. The third part gives some conclusions while the last one presents recommendations aimed at reducing the number of deaths in the sub- Saharan Africa. (author's)Item Challenges and Opportunities in the Protection and Preservation of Indigenous Knowledge in Africa(2007) Msuya, JangaweThis paper presents challenges and opportunities in the protection and preservation of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in Africa. Specific examples have been taken from the Maasai pastoralists and the Sambaa and Zigua traditional medicine-men of North Eastern Tanzania. The paper argues that there is a threat of IK extinction due to lack of recording and problems associated with preservation and protection of the knowledge from pirates. Examples on efforts made by Tanzania in IK preservation, including efforts made by Economic and Social Research Foundation in developing IK database and training initiatives at University of Dar es Salaam are discussed. Ethical issues in IK Systems are also discussed with emphasis on returning IK benefits to the owners of the knowledge, and involvement of people in IK researches. Finally, the paper highlights challenges in IK prevention and suggests measures that can be taken to alleviate the challenges. These include among others, developing appropriate IK policies and practices, establishing IK resource centres, training, researching and developing South South IK networks.Item Channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers(SAGE Pub, 2019) Ndimbwa, Tumpe; Mwantimwa, Kelefa; Ndumbaro, FarajaThis study examined the effectiveness of the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional design longside quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed to collect data from 341 respondents. While the data collected through the questionnaire was analysed by using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 21, the data collected through the interview was analysed by using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that delivery of and access to timely and relevant agricultural information and knowledge, appropriately packaged, is one of the critical problems undermining smallholder farmers’ efforts to increase their production. As a result, most smallholder farmers mainly depend on informal channels. Besides informal channels, farmer groups and demonstration plots are becoming popular channels to deliver and access agricultural information and knowledge. To make a difference in agricultural production, deliberate efforts should be made to enhance the delivery of agricultural information and knowledge.Item Civil Society in Tanzania: An Analytical Review of Sources of Information(2007) Manda, Paul A.; Mungwabi, H.This paper is an examination of the profile of civil societies in Tanzania and analytical review of sources of information relating to these societies. Data for research were obtained from secondary sources, self-administered questionnaires, interviews and document searches. Secondary sources of data were gathered from library and documentation centers in Dar es salaam, Arusha and Mwanza. Questionnaires were sent to various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Interviews were conducted with key informants who are involved in civil society issues. Document searches were carried out to identify and list items on civil society. Data processing and analysis included the preparation of abstracts and creation of computerized database of civil society in Tanzania. The findings show, among others, that forty two percent of all the civil societies surveyed were established and registered in the period between 1997 and 1999; ninety six percent of all the civil societies were local as opposed to four percent which were international. Forty three percent of all civil societies were located in Dar es Salaam. Sixty percent of civil societies deal with social development programmes. Additionally, results show that most civil societies had disproportionate staffing problems; and sixty six percent depended on international sources of funding while 46% reported that they secured funds from both local and foreign sources of financing.Item Collection Development in th Information Age: a Case of Developing countries(2000) Nyerembe, Malima, P.Academic libraries in Third World Countries are in the midst of a transition. They are still expected to acquire the printed word, while simultaneously seeking out electronic sources- a mid that is far from mature. This paper argues that universities and their libraries need to carefully assess the complex issue of just - in - case versus just - in - time; and in the process determine the level of funding needed to support the mission of the institution.Item Computerizing the Library Catalogue with ADLIB at the University of Dar Es Salaam(SAGE Publications, 2001) Msuya, JangawePresents the experience encountered by the University of Dar es Salaam library in computerizing its catalogue using ADLIB software. Shows how the project was managed, the strengths and limitations of the software and the structure of the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). Other issues discussed include Retrospective Conversion of the catalogue, staff training, and sustainability of the project. In the course of the discussion, the paper draws some lessons which other libraries intending to computerize their catalogues can learn from the University of Dar es Salaam library experience.Item Coping with Change in Academic Library: the Case of the University of Dar es Salaam Library, Tanzania(2004) Nyerembe, Malima, P.This article examine the re-organization of the University of Dar es Salaam library. It argues that re-organization was not motivated by a performance crisis per se, it did originate from among other things, the need to automate the manual system to meet the need of the changing organizational role and a growing clientele. The decision was taken by top library management. The wisdom inherent in the library staff was less recognized and appreciated. Argues also that reorganization ought to have taken in the first place change in the organizational structure. A user oriented and a team approach was required. One radical area which could determine the organization and delivery of services is partnership, that is, promoting higher level of cooperation and collaboration both internally and externally. It concludes that the library must became a learning, listening, and an acting organization.Item Delivery mechanisms of agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers in Tanzania: A meta–analysis study(UDSM, 2019) Ndimbwa, Tumpe; Ndumbaro, Faraja; Mwantimwa, KelefaRegardless of concerted interventions and initiatives made to foster agricultural information and knowledge delivery to smallholder farmers, access to these resources remains largely poor in rural Tanzania. To gain insights, the present study examined the delivery mechanisms of agricultural knowledge among smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The study employed a meta-analysis approach where 20 extant studies on agricultural information and knowledge in Tanzania were reviewed. During data analysis, Microsoft Excel 2010 was used to perform descriptive statistics analyses. The study’s findings reveal that there are various sources and delivery mechanisms of agricultural information and knowledge to the smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The findings further expose that there is no consensus on channels that are most suitable for delivering these resources to rural areas. While some prior studies show mass media as predominant sources, others inform that oral information and knowledge delivery mechanism are a prime sources and channels. Besides, the study reveals that rural Tanzania is not immune to factors that constrain delivery of agricultural information and knowledge. Factors like lack of communication tools, illiteracy, irrelevance of content, packaging information using languages farmers are not conversant with, lack of power supply, and limited income limit information and knowledge delivery and access. To speed up agricultural information and knowledge penetration to smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania, farmers groups, demonstration plots, farmers’ field study tours, agricultural shows and NGOs are recommended as sources and channels.Item Democracy, Literacy and Poverty: “Can Text Messages Bring the Academic Library to African Civic Leaders?”(2011) Phillips, Chantal; MacKay, Pamela; Nkhoma-Wamunza, Alice G.; Vainio-Mattila, Arja; Mongula, BenedictIn the spring of 2009, our Canadian team of 2 Librarians and a professor, s, a professor anpent a month in Africa collaborating with Tanzanian academics to understand the information environment of villagers at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro where 3 years of drought was hitting families hard. We were working with our Tanzanian counterparts on the initial stages of developing a way to ensure that remote communities can have access to information related to government services and entitlements. Although this may seem a stretch for an academic librarian, maintaining access to information is at the core of librarianship.Item The Design and Implementation of an Information Literacy Training Course That Integrated Information Literacy and Library Science Conceptions of Information Literacy, Educational Theory and Information Behaviour Research: A Tanzanian Pilot Study(Taylor & Francis, 2005-12) Mark, Hepworth; Evans, WemaThis paper reviews the implementation of an Information Literacy Training course at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. The training lasted seven days and involved Masters students from the Faculty of Education. The course was created as part of a PhD research project on information literacy that was undertaken by the second author of this paper at the Department of Information Science at Loughborough University. The objective was to develop a training course that inculcated information literacy and could be implemented by staff in the library. The success of the course was therefore partly judged on whether it effectively enabled knowledge transfer. This was tested by involving librarians in the pilot, and who took the entire course, and then seeing whether they were able to effectively implement the course themselves. This paper explores the implementation of the information literacy training programme attended by Master students from the Faculty of Education at the University of Dar Es Salaam. The course was innovative in that it integrated knowledge from information behaviour research and educational theory with current perspectives of information literacy from Information and Library Science. The style of training was influenced by the pedagogical theories of Kolb and Vygotsky that stress the importance of experiential and reflective learning and mediated communication. The notion that learning information literacy is more akin to learning a culture rather than skills and that learners are active participants in the learning process further emphasised the need for communication and sharing of learning throughout the course. All stages of the course were evaluated using quizzes, exercises, group reflection and presentations that related to each stage in the course. Trainees’ knowledge of information literacy was evaluated before and after the course to provide an indication of changes in knowledge. A review of the course content and its rationale is given here, challenges are identified, and questions about future initiatives are raised. The course, judging from the various forms of feedback, was effective. It also enabled the librarians to run subsequent courses, including the training of Masters students described in this paper. Hence, the programme proved successful in terms of knowledge transfer.Item Developing a Library Research Agenda at the University of Dar es Salaam(SAGE Publications, 2002) Msuya, JangawePresents the experience of the University of Dar es Salaam Library in developing a library research agenda. It examines the need for conducting research on focused areas that are relevant to the profession and national development. The paper reviews the research and publishing situation at the University of Dar es Salaam library and outlines the processes involved in developing its research agenda, including criteria for the selection of topics for inclusion and the actual priority areas selected for research. Concludes with recommendations and lessons for other libraries.Item Dissemination and Use of Information on Climate Change and Variability: A Case Study of Farmers in Maluga and Chibela Villages in Semi-Arid Central Tanzania(2016-02-08) Elia, Emmanuel F.; Mutula, Stephen; Stilwell, ChristineThis study was part of broader PhD research which investigated how access to, and use of, information enhances adaptation to climate change and variability in the agricultural sector in semi-arid Central Tanzania. The research was carried out in two villages using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory and model to assess the dissemination of this information and its use by farmers in their adaptation of their farming practices to climate change and variability. This predominantly qualitative study employed a post-positivist paradigm. Some elements of a quantitative approach were also deployed in the data collection and analysis. The principal data collection methods were interviews and focus group discussions. The study population comprised farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis whereas quantitative data were analysed to generate mostly descriptive statistics using SPSS. Key findings of the study show that farmers perceive a problem in the dissemination and use of climate information for agricultural development. They found access to agricultural inputs to be expensive, unreliable and untimely. To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and variability on farming effectively, the study recommends the repackaging of current and accurate information on climate change and variability, farmer education and training, and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, and extension officers and farmers. Moreover, a clear policy framework for disseminating information related to climate change and variability is required.