Challenges in Automating Tanzania Academic Library

Lois – Singa MetiliAssistant Lecturer

Tumaini University, Makumira – Dar es salaam CollegeDar es salaam, Tanzania

Objective of the PresentationThis paper intends to establish the cultural

challenges in automating academic libraries in Tanzania. These include:Poor reading cultureInadequate capitalAvailability of serviceInfrastructure barrierInadequate ICT skillsLack of management support andDonor funded dependency syndrome

IntroductionTanzania has 28 academic libraries in both

public and private universitiesMajority of these libraries are operated

manually15 libraries are in the process of automating

their librariesAccording to available literature, only the

University of Dar es salaam has completed automating its library

Defining ‘Academic Library’Academic libraries are libraries that are

hosted in post-secondary educational institutions, such as colleges and universities.

Functions of academic libraries includeprovide resources and research support for

students and faculty of the educational institution

Provide specific course-related resources are usually provided by the library

offer workshops and courses outside of formal, graded coursework

offers both, a quite study place

Many libraries have subscribed to electronic journals databases and usually provide computer workstations or computer labs for students to access journals, library search databases and portals, institutional electronic resources, internet access, and course- or task-related software

Tanzania is making an effort in automating the library services in all its libraries through training, aiding libraries with computers and building the capacity of staff and other stakeholders

Defining the ‘Automated Library’An automated library is a robotically

controlled device designed to load and unload removable cartridges without operator intervention.

The archiving and staging processes use a site-defined scheme for allocating the number of drives to use.

Automated libraries are also known as media changers, jukeboxes, robots, libraries, or media libraries.

University of Chicago LibraryThe University of Chicago has spent over $80

million on the Joe and Riko Mansueto Library, that is unique and handy to its end users and staff.

The Mansueto library houses its contents fifty feet below the ground

The books are retrieved by a robotic arm which returns the storage bin containing the book or item.

University of Chicago Library (cont.)

Defining ‘Automated Librarian’A librarian, is the person who looks after the storage and retrieval of information was previously professionally trained and educated to deal with information in a wide variety of formats and settings

Today, the librarian is expected to helps users navigate into the voyage of internet and evaluate information efficiently.

Librarian should be knowledgeable in a variety of information sources and follow the new trends and advancements in computers, media and publishing

Cultural Challenges in Automating Tanzanian Libraries

Challenges of automated libraries vary from country to country

Kamba (2011) identifies challenges in Nigeria as being ICT illiteracy, ICT awareness and lack of ICT framework

Muller (2005), identifies challenges facing special libraries in South Africa as being trend change, adding value to the special library, inadequate education on library information service, lack of or inadequate proper benchmarking and lack of succession plan

This paper identifies seven cultural challenges in automating Tanzanian academic libraries

Poor reading culture of many university/college studentsA survey shows poor tendency of individual

reading at the library, which resulted to poor assignments and research reports and in some instances even duplication of research reports

60 percent of students enter the library for assignments and research

85 percent of those who do visit the library study books that are relevant in their respective courses only

Some students complete their three years in college without having visited the library at all

Inadequate CapitalEconomical capital –financial implications

in an attempt to get connected, purchase of a computer, train responsible staff and student’s, build a user friendly infrastructure for the automated library and the likes

Cultural capital – knowledge acquired through cultural expression learned from the family socialization and education institutions

Inadequate Capital (cont.)Social capital – networking and relationships

benefits one can get from participating in certain library networks and databases related to lending books, journals, papers and research

Institutional capital - issues that mediate all of economic, political and social life

Inadequate capital results into poor libraries with minimum automation, poor staff with little qualification for automated libraries and poorly developed students with limited resources for their education.

Availability of ServiceAccording to a survey by TCRA (2010):

46 (67%) out of 68 ASLs were found operating 20 of them (30%) were not traced and 2 (3%) were not operational. Out of 46 operational licensees only 38 (83%)

of them provide internet service. Uncertainty in availability of services acts as

a stumbling block in learning, using and communicating in an automated library environment.

Infrastructure BarrierIn Tanzania,

if the staff are not well equipped, then they are in no good position to assist students,

If students don’t understand on how to use the infrastructure, then the staff and equipment will not be of any use.

Should the staff and students understand the computer and automated equipment, but lack computers and or electricity, then that acts as a stumbling block.

Should everything be in order but the service provider are on and off, again it affects the operation of the automated library.

Infrastructure Barrier (cont.)Unfortunately, in most of the academic

libraries in Tanzania, one of the above mentioned or more are off-order, hence acting as stumbling blocks to the library.

Inadequate ICT skillsICT staff and end users lack the proper know-

how in usage of ICT equipment. Shortage of computers and low computer –

student ratio, lead to some students not touching computer for all the three years in their academic endeavor

Lack of Management SupportManagements are not supportive to

modernizing and automating their services due to:minimal fundslow enrolmentnever-ending priorities ever increasing competition

They investing more in marketing, bettering remuneration and modernizing buildings

Donor – Funded Dependency SyndromeDefinition: a situation in which a country

cannot carry out its activities without the assistance of funding and expertise

Waiting for sister-colleges to donate computers, printers, books, experts in automation, construction, tools, laboratory equipment etc

ConclusionSignificance of automating academic libraries

can never be overlookedIt has to be noted that the library is the heart

of any academic institutionThere should be campaigns to stress:

Significance of automating libraries Providing ICT training to librarian academic

staff and students and Building a user friendly infrastructure that can

facilitate the smooth running of an automated library