Transformative aspects of Wireless innovations in Academic Libraries in Kenya - case of the University of Nairobi Library
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the transformative aspects of wireless
innovations in academic libraries in Kenya with reference to University of Nairobi library.
Objectives were to: find out the extent to which wireless innovations have promoted use
of digital information resources in academic libraries, examine how wireless innovations
have transformed delivery of services in academic libraries, establish applications of
wireless innovations in academic libraries, and propose effective strategies to enhance
wireless innovations in academic libraries. The research was a descriptive survey with
certain aspects of qualitative methods. The research instruments used in the study were
questionnaires and interview schedules. In total 16 staff at the library were purposively
selected on merit out of which 10 staff participated in a face to face interview.
Questionnaires were issued to 96 postgraduate students from the College of Humanities
and Social Sciences. Personal interview guides and questionnaires were administered to
the respondents. Collected data were coded and analyzed using Statistical Package of
Social Science and Microsoft Excel and presented by use of tables, charts, percentages
and narratives. The major findings from the research revealed: that wireless innovations
have enabled flexibility with presence of portable devices; that with the changing users’
needs and demands, academic libraries are creating digital libraries with e-resources, erepositories
with authentic, authorized and quality online resources for online and
distance learning, e-learning and e-publishing; that contrary to academic libraries in
developed countries, JKML libraries have neither embraced nor popularized use of
wireless innovations for online library lending of materials, internet of things,
connectivity beacons, virtual library cards and loaning hotspots; and that presence of
firewalls as a form of security was not enough as there were cases of sharing of
passwords with outsiders which made the number of users to overpower the bandwidth.
Recommendations include: sensitization to encourage more library users to explore use
of wireless innovations to access digital information resources; development of mobile
smart applications by library professionals to offer users self-service; increase security
and hiring expertise for continued upgrade and regular maintenance of wireless
technologies. Besides, academic libraries need to create mobilization programmes to
adjust to the trends and user demands and take information services to another level such
as digital repositories, electronic information resources, remote access, interactive
websites, and social networks among other technologies. Suggestion for further research
is recommended on potential capabilities of wireless innovations in academic libraries to
maximize utilization of information resources.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Arts [606]
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