Browsing by Author "Mabweazara, Rangarirai Moira"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The 21st century academic library: the case of three state universities in Zimbabwe
    (The University of the Western Cape, 2018) Mabweazara, Rangarirai Moira; Zinn, Sandy
    The advent of the 21st century and its dynamic information environment have changed higher education considerably including the library spaces. Library patrons, namely undergraduates, postgraduates, and academics are placing heavy demands on academic libraries requiring support in research, teaching and learning. As a result, academic librarians globally have undertaken major re-evaluations of what they do and how they do it, to ensure relevance amongst their diverse user communities. The new information landscape is fraught with controversies that prompt opposing perspectives towards change acceptance amongst librarians. In Zimbabwe, academic libraries seemed to be lagging behind regarding changes presented by this information landscape. Given this context, the study sought to understand how librarians are adjusting to the 21st century environment against the expectations of the students and academics. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory crafted by Rogers (2003) and the McKinsey 7S model propounded by Waterman, Peters and Phillips (1982) were used as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The research further applied a conceptual framework from the literature to determine the expectations of students and academics of the academic library in the 21st century. For data collection, the study adopted a case study design and a mixed methods approach using Web-based questionnaires, follow-up interviews and website content analysis. Data was collected from students, academics and librarians at three selected Zimbabwean universities. All data collecting tools were pre-tested amongst librarians, academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students prior to collecting data. Data collected using questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel while interview data was analysed using thematic text analysis. Findings of this study revealed that the Midlands State University Library had to a larger extent embraced new trends which are in-line with the 21st century environment compared to the National University of Science and Technology and Lupane State University libraries. The Library and Information Science qualification remains important in service delivery among academic librarians. Inadequate funding, limited time due to multitasking, slow uptake of new concepts and limited knowledge and skills were barriers to keeping up with new trends amongst librarians. Academic librarians collaborated with academics in collection development, Information Literacy Skills (ILS) teaching and uploading theses and research papers into the Institution Repository (IR).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessing the appropriation of social media by academic librarians in South Africa and Zimbabwe
    (LIASA, 2016) Mabweazara, Rangarirai Moira; Zinn, Sandy
    Research into the appropriation of social media by academic libraries in countries with growing economies is scarce. There remains an empirical and theoretical gap in the literature about how librarians, particularly those in Southern Africa, are deploying social media in their work routines and in their personal lives. Based on one of the researchers' experiences at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Library and both researchers' use of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Library, the researchers aimed to examine the way librarians deploy and appropriate social media platforms as part of their service delivery. Using data derived from a questionnaire survey among librarians at UWC in South Africa and NUST in Zimbabwe, this study examined how librarians use social media for professional and personal purposes. The findings suggest that UWC librarians are more proficient social media users than NUST librarians. They further reveal that UWC librarians themselves are managing social media, while at NUST, the Information Technology department is directly responsible for managing the platforms. The study found that UWC Library utilises social media to promote its services more widely, whereas the NUST Library uses social media for reference services.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Digital literacy skills of librarians in the 21st century: A case study of the University of the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Xwayi, Nontobeko Angeline; Mabweazara, Rangarirai Moira
    Digital literacy (DL) has become a critical skill in the 21st century. The proliferation of information communication technology (ICT) in academic libraries has resulted in migration from print to digital library collections, instant communication, virtual spaces, and high-speed information access and retrieval. This has also resulted in emerging technologies that support the demands of the 21st century. The new technologies come with certain digital skills that librarians must learn to remain relevant and to continue playing a supportive role in teaching and learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the DL skills possessed by academic librarians at the University of the Western Cape; how librarians use digital technology for service delivery; the acquisition of the skills and challenges often experienced when improving on their DL skills. The study used Rogers' theory to highlight how librarians choose to adopt technology, focusing on innovation characteristics. Data was analysed through adopter categories and the innovation decision process. A case study design was used, and a mixed methods approach employed. Web-based questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were deployed to collect data. Analysis was done through Microsoft Excel for survey and thematic analysis for interviews.