African Librarianship and African Librarianship and the Academic Enterprisethe Academic Enterprise

Prepared By: Kay RaserokaPrepared By: Kay RaserokaDirector: Library ServicesDirector: Library Services

University of BotswanaUniversity of Botswana

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW DefinitionDefinition

Academic EnterpriseAcademic Enterprise African LibrarianshipAfrican Librarianship

ContextContext Africa’s information Africa’s information Tertiary Institution In AfricaTertiary Institution In Africa Emerging VisionsEmerging Visions

StudentsStudents Stakeholders In Shaping The Academic EnterpriseStakeholders In Shaping The Academic Enterprise Perception of The Academic Library Perception of The Academic Library

Role of Librarianship In This LandscapeRole of Librarianship In This Landscape Information LiteracyInformation Literacy Learning CommonsLearning Commons

Academic PerceptionsAcademic Perceptions Partnerships In Support of LearningPartnerships In Support of Learning Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management

ConclusionConclusion Opportunities/ChallengesOpportunities/Challenges Implications For Effective African Librarianship In The 21Implications For Effective African Librarianship In The 21stst Century Century

DEFINITIONDEFINITION

Academic EnterpriseAcademic Enterprise Generic mission of Universities:Generic mission of Universities:

Learning, Teaching, Research/Knowledge DevelopmentLearning, Teaching, Research/Knowledge Development Contribution to community developmentContribution to community development

African LibrarianshipAfrican Librarianship Generic Library ServiceGeneric Library Service

Process InputsProcess Inputs Information Service DeliveryInformation Service Delivery

CONTEXTCONTEXT Africa’s information contextAfrica’s information context

Orality- grey literature- local languagesOrality- grey literature- local languages Foreign language publishingForeign language publishing costly textbooks- poverty-costly textbooks- poverty- Base for learning reliance on notesBase for learning reliance on notes

MassificationMassification Africa – Fastest Increase In Tertiary Enrollment (1991-2004; 15.6% p.a.)Africa – Fastest Increase In Tertiary Enrollment (1991-2004; 15.6% p.a.)

ICT – Extensive Developments & ConvergenceICT – Extensive Developments & Convergence Knowledge Driven World EconomyKnowledge Driven World Economy Human Resource DevelopmentHuman Resource Development

To meet diversified economyTo meet diversified economy Sustained skills developmentSustained skills development

Funding ConstraintsFunding Constraints Reduced Government SubsidiesReduced Government Subsidies Third stream Income ExpectationsThird stream Income Expectations

Private Sector InvolvementPrivate Sector Involvement Globalisation of Tertiary EducationGlobalisation of Tertiary Education

Emerging VisionsEmerging Visions

STUDENTSSTUDENTS SchoolingSchooling

Preparation For Global CitizenshipPreparation For Global Citizenship Critical thinkingCritical thinking

Discerning consumers of informationDiscerning consumers of information Connections between ideasConnections between ideas Ability to think across disciplinesAbility to think across disciplines

Creativity, innovation and self generated wealth creationCreativity, innovation and self generated wealth creation CollaborationCollaboration

Excellent communication skillsExcellent communication skills Application of academic PrinciplesApplication of academic Principles Strategic ThinkingStrategic Thinking Problem SolvingProblem Solving

Generic African Student; Applicability?Generic African Student; Applicability? How well does schooling in Africa prepare the entrant into the tertiary How well does schooling in Africa prepare the entrant into the tertiary

institutionsinstitutions Assessment of new intakes on basic information seeking and evaluation skills Assessment of new intakes on basic information seeking and evaluation skills

and profiling students and role in shaping academic enterpriseand profiling students and role in shaping academic enterprise Role of the academy in producing the global citizen?Role of the academy in producing the global citizen?

Conviction and commitment of all stakeholdersConviction and commitment of all stakeholders Integration within curricula, funding: staff, facilities, organizational requirementsIntegration within curricula, funding: staff, facilities, organizational requirements

Role of librarianshipRole of librarianship

Traditional processes: Traditional processes: collection development, organization, managementcollection development, organization, management Services: reference, guidance to access and document deliveryServices: reference, guidance to access and document delivery Storage for local accessStorage for local access Study spacesStudy spaces

Current focus improvement of learning outcomesCurrent focus improvement of learning outcomes Liaison with stakeholders support of learning, teaching and Liaison with stakeholders support of learning, teaching and

researchresearch Facilitation of access to remote and local digital resourcesFacilitation of access to remote and local digital resources Information needs and skills assessment for effective use of Information needs and skills assessment for effective use of

tools and resourcestools and resources Resource based learning and problem- solving process - Resource based learning and problem- solving process -

shared understanding with students and faculty?shared understanding with students and faculty? Learning commons –supportive social learning spacesLearning commons –supportive social learning spaces Knowledge management- data sets, digital repositoryKnowledge management- data sets, digital repository

ACADEMIC PERCEPTIONSACADEMIC PERCEPTIONS Ithaka 2006 Faculty SurveyIthaka 2006 Faculty Survey

Declining dependence on library for teaching & research 80%-H and Declining dependence on library for teaching & research 80%-H and 60%-S60%-S

Valued as purchaser and repositoryValued as purchaser and repository Gateway role: contrasting perceptionsGateway role: contrasting perceptions

Prominence of non-library discovery tools e.g. GoogleProminence of non-library discovery tools e.g. Google Innovative service in support of learning, students’ ethical use of Innovative service in support of learning, students’ ethical use of

information information Embedding information literacy within assignmentsEmbedding information literacy within assignments

Commitment for collaborative approaches: policy and practiceCommitment for collaborative approaches: policy and practice Information literacy StandardsInformation literacy Standards African association of Universities: ILS standards learning and teachingAfrican association of Universities: ILS standards learning and teaching

Learning CommonsLearning Commons Envisioning new spaces, new partnershipsEnvisioning new spaces, new partnerships Support integrated service needs of digital generationSupport integrated service needs of digital generation

Library, information technology, other academic support servicesLibrary, information technology, other academic support services Dynamic and interactive space: inquiry, collaboration, discussion and Dynamic and interactive space: inquiry, collaboration, discussion and

consultation- product focusconsultation- product focus

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Visioning the African academic enterpriseVisioning the African academic enterprise Creating the global citizenCreating the global citizen Preservation, research into & analysis of Preservation, research into & analysis of

alternative ways of knowing within IKSalternative ways of knowing within IKS Infusion into mainstream fields: environment, Infusion into mainstream fields: environment,

health, history, spirituality, architecture, food health, history, spirituality, architecture, food sciences etcsciences etc

Appropriate technologies and Intellectual property Appropriate technologies and Intellectual property rights legal systemsrights legal systems

UNISA –educational tentacles in Africa: How UNISA –educational tentacles in Africa: How embedded are learning resources to local content? embedded are learning resources to local content? role of African librarianship?role of African librarianship?

Home front opportunities?Home front opportunities?

ChallengesChallenges

Integration of information vehicles:Integration of information vehicles: Archives, museums, librariesArchives, museums, libraries Critical assessment of validity of Critical assessment of validity of

separation, beyond organizational interestsseparation, beyond organizational interests Human resource scarcity, Human resource scarcity, Appropriate technology and integrated Appropriate technology and integrated

knowledge management systems knowledge management systems Seamless access for stakeholdersSeamless access for stakeholders

ImplicationsImplications

Sustained human resources development in keeping Sustained human resources development in keeping with continuous changewith continuous change

Multiple skilled information professionals: Multiple skilled information professionals: advocates for planning inclusive of integrated approach to advocates for planning inclusive of integrated approach to

learning and teaching roles and appropriate financing modelslearning and teaching roles and appropriate financing models Marketing information literacy skills as an underpinning of life Marketing information literacy skills as an underpinning of life

long learninglong learning Expertise in facilitation of learningExpertise in facilitation of learning

Well developed collaborative and team approach to Well developed collaborative and team approach to support of the academic enterprisesupport of the academic enterprise

Service to users in new waysService to users in new ways Scholarly publishingScholarly publishing Facilitation of local content exposure in digital spaceFacilitation of local content exposure in digital space Managing institutional knowledgeManaging institutional knowledge

THANK YOUTHANK YOUraseroka@ mopipi. ub. bw raseroka@ mopipi. ub. bw