A Proposed Framework for Digital Librarianship in Academic Libraries in Kenya

Abstract

The service delivery in academic libraries in Kenya has been regressing due to the failure of Digital Librarians (DLns) to perform optimally. This study aimed at developing a proposed framework for digital librarianship in academic libraries in Kenya with special emphasis to three selected public academic institutional libraries namely the University of Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library, Technical University of Kenya Library and Multimedia University of Kenya Library. The study’s specific objectives were to determine the roles played by the current DLns’ in academic libraries, establish job description of DLns’ in various academic libraries in Kenya, ascertain DLns best practices, and to implement a viable digital librarianship conceptual framework. The study adopted three theories namely, Core Competency Theory (CCT), Occupational Self-Efficacy Theory (OST) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The study used a survey research with open-ended questionnaire designed as per the objectives of the study. Relevant literature review was conducted to identify the DLns’ roles, job description, and skills for developing and managing DLs. A purposively selected sample of 30 Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals from the three selected academic libraries in charge of Digital Information Services (DIS) and managing electronic resources in Nairobi County-Kenya were selected and interviewed. A piloted self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information from these respondents. A total of thirty (30) questionnaires to the LIS professionals-ten from each of the three selected academic libraries were administered. The data was analyzed using SPSS software v25. The findings revealed a disconnect between digital librarians’ roles and their job descriptions where 59.1% of respondents agreed whereas 40.9% had no idea whether there was any disconnect or not. A majority (72.73%) of the respondents also indicated that there was no formal conceptual framework for digital librarians’ roles and recommended that such a model should be developed and that the model should incorporate such elements such as, e-resources management, job descriptions, policies, and strategic planning. The study also established that only one-fifth or 20% were digital librarians in academic libraries in Kenya. Moreover, the specific roles of the few DLns that are serving in academic libraries are not clear or not known and what is described in their job descriptions (JDs) is not what they do in their daily tasks. However, academic libraries should designate DLns to specific roles, duties and responsibilities which should also form part of their job. The study thus developed a proposed conceptual framework for DLns’ that details the pertinent issues currently facing academic libraries when hiring DLns. The study recommended that the provided framework be adopted to guide library managers in identifying the needs of staff training and selecting the most adequate training method as well as settling on the best practices to be sent to staff for training and development.