ZAMBIA’S PLACE IN AFRICAZAMBIA’S PLACE IN AFRICA

Located south of the Equator, this landlocked Located south of the Equator, this landlocked country is positioned in southern Africa, and country is positioned in southern Africa, and bordered by the countries of Angola, bordered by the countries of Angola, Botswana, D.R.C., Malawi, Mozambique, Botswana, D.R.C., Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and ZimbabweNamibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Population of just above 10million of which Population of just above 10million of which 1/5 live in Lusaka1/5 live in Lusaka

Known for the worlds largest waterfall, Known for the worlds largest waterfall, Victoria falls, locally known as the Musi-oa-Victoria falls, locally known as the Musi-oa-tunya. tunya.

THE ACADEMIC LIBRARIAN IN A THE ACADEMIC LIBRARIAN IN A DEVELOPING SOCIETY: DEVELOPING SOCIETY: challenges and prospects of challenges and prospects of retooling academic librariesretooling academic libraries

Mutinta Mweemba Nabuyanda, LibrarianMutinta Mweemba Nabuyanda, LibrarianNational Institute of Public Administration, National Institute of Public Administration, ZambiaZambia

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

This paper highlights the challenges This paper highlights the challenges encountered by academic librarians encountered by academic librarians in developing countries, in this case in developing countries, in this case Zambia, in their endeavour to Zambia, in their endeavour to implement change management in implement change management in the provision of efficient and the provision of efficient and effective information systems to their effective information systems to their clients.clients.

A sample of four academic libraries, A sample of four academic libraries, namely, the National Institute of Public namely, the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Evelyn Hone Administration (NIPA), Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Sciences, College of Applied Arts and Sciences, the University of Zambia (UNZA) the University of Zambia (UNZA) library, and the Zambia Institute of library, and the Zambia Institute of Accountancy Studies (ZCAS). Accountancy Studies (ZCAS).

These libraries present a 66.6% of the These libraries present a 66.6% of the total membership of academic libraries total membership of academic libraries in the Zambia Library Consortium in the Zambia Library Consortium (ZALICO). (ZALICO).

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

1.1. Poor and inadequate InfrastructurePoor and inadequate Infrastructure

-Old dilapidated infrastructure (libraries -Old dilapidated infrastructure (libraries built in the 1960s)built in the 1960s)

-Limited space for expansion ( even with -Limited space for expansion ( even with the increase in enrolments)the increase in enrolments)

-Limited number of users at any given -Limited number of users at any given time, e.g. NIPA built to cater for 80 but time, e.g. NIPA built to cater for 80 but currently 1, 236 users, Evelyn Hone built currently 1, 236 users, Evelyn Hone built to cater for 150 but currently has 1,763 to cater for 150 but currently has 1,763 usersusers

-Low funding levels-Low funding levels

2. 2. Poor reading CulturePoor reading Culture

--Inability to purchase booksInability to purchase books

-Reading to pass examinations only -Reading to pass examinations only and not for enjoyment.and not for enjoyment.

- Introduction of alternative - Introduction of alternative entertainment, for example, entertainment, for example, Television, video games and cinemasTelevision, video games and cinemas

3. 3. Poor conditions of servicePoor conditions of service

-Low salary scales for librarians -Low salary scales for librarians compared to other professionalscompared to other professionals

-lowly placed in organisational -lowly placed in organisational structuresstructures

-Working long hours without good -Working long hours without good incentivesincentives

-High workload-High workload

-lack of opportunity for advancement-lack of opportunity for advancement

4. 4. Low qualifications of library Low qualifications of library staffstaff

-Under utilization of e-resources -Under utilization of e-resources

-Poor service delivery-Poor service delivery

-unable to cope with major -unable to cope with major responsibilitiesresponsibilities

5. 5. Poor FundingPoor Funding

-Low provision for purchasing new books-Low provision for purchasing new books

-low provision for infrastructure -low provision for infrastructure rehabilitationrehabilitation

-Economic challenges of the third world-Economic challenges of the third world

a. Implications of exchange rates a. Implications of exchange rates ( dollarisation of world economy and ( dollarisation of world economy and fluctuations in the exchange rates)fluctuations in the exchange rates)

- limited modern equipment- limited modern equipment

-Reasons for poor funding -Reasons for poor funding

-lack of government support-lack of government support

-different priorities set by parent -different priorities set by parent institutions.institutions.

-limited sources of funding-limited sources of funding

TRADITIONAL OR MODERN?TRADITIONAL OR MODERN?

TraditionalTraditional

-conventional ‘book -conventional ‘book only’ materialsonly’ materials

-reading area only-reading area only

-hard copies only-hard copies only

-manual catalogue -manual catalogue systemssystems

ModernModern

-e-resources-e-resources

-research facilities-research facilities

-soft and hard copies-soft and hard copies

-automated -automated catalogue systemscatalogue systems

Change managementChange management

-challenges of getting new ideas -challenges of getting new ideas implemented and appreciated.implemented and appreciated.

-implemented through education and -implemented through education and communicationcommunication

-advantages of Information -advantages of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Communication Technology (ICT) need to be explained need to be explained

- undertake Orientation programmes- undertake Orientation programmes

-selective dissemination of information -selective dissemination of information (SDI) for e-resources through e-journal (SDI) for e-resources through e-journal alertsalerts

-registration of internet protocol (IP) -registration of internet protocol (IP) addresses for the whole instituteaddresses for the whole institute

-constant touch with academia and -constant touch with academia and students to get feedbackstudents to get feedback

PROSPECTSPROSPECTS1.1. Infrastructure ImprovementInfrastructure Improvement

-expanding and building of new -expanding and building of new infrastructureinfrastructure

-widening bandwidth for efficient -widening bandwidth for efficient delivery of delivery of informationinformation

-research can be carried out in the -research can be carried out in the offices and laboratories without having to offices and laboratories without having to

physically visit the libraryphysically visit the library

-Political will through the -Political will through the introduction of introduction of ICT national policyICT national policy

2. 2. Training of librariansTraining of librarians--training in modern information training in modern information

management systems management systems -deliberate training policies for staff -deliberate training policies for staff whenever a need is observed whenever a need is observed -provision of post-graduate and -provision of post-graduate and

Masters Masters levels within the countrylevels within the country-Introduction of need-based training-Introduction of need-based training-upgrading of services-upgrading of services-Establishing and maintaining -Establishing and maintaining

professional professional bodies to monitor quality of bodies to monitor quality of training training (locally/international)(locally/international)

3. 3. FundingFunding

-lobby for higher budget -lobby for higher budget allocations allocations

-Taking advantage of availability -Taking advantage of availability of of low-cost editions of bookslow-cost editions of books

-lobby for assistance from -lobby for assistance from cooperating cooperating partners through the partners through the government.government.

-lobby for government subsidies -lobby for government subsidies

-Introducing and providing -Introducing and providing chargeable chargeable servicesservices

4. 4. NetworkingNetworking

--Institutional co-operation (locally)Institutional co-operation (locally)-Formation of Zambia -Formation of Zambia

Library Library Consortium Consortium (ZALICO)(ZALICO)

-resource sharing (INASP--resource sharing (INASP-PERI) PERI) programme in programme in subscription subscription for e-resourcesfor e-resources

- Institutional co-operation Institutional co-operation (International)(International)

-Webster University and NIPA-Webster University and NIPA-Evelyn Hone College and Irish -Evelyn Hone College and Irish

GovernmentGovernment-ZCAS and Irish -ZCAS and Irish

government/European government/European UnionUnion

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION With the introduction of new technological With the introduction of new technological

changes, it is imperative that the changes, it is imperative that the academic librarian in the third world is academic librarian in the third world is empowered to provide services which will empowered to provide services which will help develop not only the intellectual help develop not only the intellectual capabilities of the academia and students capabilities of the academia and students but also contribute positively to research but also contribute positively to research issues touching on the very existence of issues touching on the very existence of our economies. Only then will the our economies. Only then will the contribution of the academic librarian be contribution of the academic librarian be looked at positively as it will help foster looked at positively as it will help foster economic development of the country. economic development of the country.