Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library
The need for equipping students in Higher Learning Institutions with Digital Literacy Skills (DLS) is considered one of the measures that can enable academic libraries to deliver library services during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This study aims at answering the following question...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP)
2023
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| Online Access: | http://192.168.30.20:4000/handle/123456789/243 |
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| author | Witness Josephat Mosha, Goodluck E. Siyao, Peter Onauphoo |
| author_facet | Witness Josephat Mosha, Goodluck E. Siyao, Peter Onauphoo |
| author_sort | Witness Josephat |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | The need for equipping students in Higher Learning Institutions with Digital Literacy Skills (DLS) is considered one of the measures that can enable academic libraries to deliver library services during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This study aims at answering the following question: What types of digital literacy skills and tools were used by academic libraries during the COVID-19 closure of the universities. It also aims at analysing the way digital literacy skills could be used to support library services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Similarly, it examines barriers which inhibited the deployment of digital literacy skills during its outbreak. The study adopted a case study design while using a mixed approach to data collection. A total of 46 respondents were drawn from the population using both census sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using interview–guides, questionnaires and documentary reviews. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis while quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The findings indicated that academic library is required to cooperate with faculties and schools by deploying the following digital tools: e-learning platforms, increasing the use of social media, conducting webinars, updating the library website, encouraging the use of library e-resources and improving the library virtual reference services. The following barriers were strongly mentioned as inhibitors of equipping respondents with digital literacy skills: poor internet connectivity, family income status,
lack of comprehensive training on digital literacy skills, attitudes of lecturers towards digital literacy skills and lack of teleworking culture among librarians, students and lecturers. It was also noted that the deployment of digital literacy skills was worsened by an acute shortage of funding and resources. The study concludes that for libraries to effectively deliver library services both librarians and users must possess the necessary digital literacy skills. The ICT infrastructure, on the other hand, must be improved to enable libraries to apply digital literacy tools and facilities in the delivery of library services. The need to overhaul library training programmes adding a course on digital literacy skills and deployment of other emerging technologies in the delivery of library services. This study is anticipated to provide insights into the conditions of academic libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings will be an eye opener to academic libraries that they have to undergo rapid transformations which will enable them to stay relevant and able to provide services during the pandemic and similar disasters |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:41.59.85.69:123456789-243 |
| institution | Mzumbe University |
| language | en_US |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oai:41.59.85.69:123456789-2432023-08-15T03:00:21Z Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library Witness Josephat Mosha, Goodluck E. Siyao, Peter Onauphoo The need for equipping students in Higher Learning Institutions with Digital Literacy Skills (DLS) is considered one of the measures that can enable academic libraries to deliver library services during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This study aims at answering the following question: What types of digital literacy skills and tools were used by academic libraries during the COVID-19 closure of the universities. It also aims at analysing the way digital literacy skills could be used to support library services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Similarly, it examines barriers which inhibited the deployment of digital literacy skills during its outbreak. The study adopted a case study design while using a mixed approach to data collection. A total of 46 respondents were drawn from the population using both census sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using interview–guides, questionnaires and documentary reviews. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis while quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The findings indicated that academic library is required to cooperate with faculties and schools by deploying the following digital tools: e-learning platforms, increasing the use of social media, conducting webinars, updating the library website, encouraging the use of library e-resources and improving the library virtual reference services. The following barriers were strongly mentioned as inhibitors of equipping respondents with digital literacy skills: poor internet connectivity, family income status, lack of comprehensive training on digital literacy skills, attitudes of lecturers towards digital literacy skills and lack of teleworking culture among librarians, students and lecturers. It was also noted that the deployment of digital literacy skills was worsened by an acute shortage of funding and resources. The study concludes that for libraries to effectively deliver library services both librarians and users must possess the necessary digital literacy skills. The ICT infrastructure, on the other hand, must be improved to enable libraries to apply digital literacy tools and facilities in the delivery of library services. The need to overhaul library training programmes adding a course on digital literacy skills and deployment of other emerging technologies in the delivery of library services. This study is anticipated to provide insights into the conditions of academic libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings will be an eye opener to academic libraries that they have to undergo rapid transformations which will enable them to stay relevant and able to provide services during the pandemic and similar disasters The Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries (COTUL), 2023 2023-08-14T06:51:07Z 2023-08-14T06:51:07Z 2023 Article APA 2953-2566 http://192.168.30.20:4000/handle/123456789/243 en_US 4th COTUL Conference application/pdf Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP) |
| spellingShingle | Witness Josephat Mosha, Goodluck E. Siyao, Peter Onauphoo Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title | Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title_full | Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title_fullStr | Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title_full_unstemmed | Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title_short | Equipping Library Users with Digital Literacy Skills as a Solution to COVID-19 and Other Similar Disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University Library |
| title_sort | equipping library users with digital literacy skills as a solution to covid 19 and other similar disasters lessons from mzumbe university library |
| url | http://192.168.30.20:4000/handle/123456789/243 |
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