“Library electronic resources: exploring and mitigating challenges encountered by users at MCAST.”

“Library electronic resources: exploring and mitigating challenges encountered by users at MCAST.”

Information professionals have also long sought to comprehend what factors are relevant in encouraging a person to seek out information. The growth of electronic resources in libraries has led to the recognition of electronic resource management for the development of a variety of electronic resources. The information gathered in an Electronic Resources Management (ERM) system can serve as a starting point for the user’s interaction with e-resources.

Informed library users know that libraries have electronic resources that are more comprehensive and scholarly than most other Web services provide. The MCAST electronic resources comprise access for the use of different databases, which includes journals and eBooks. Often it is in the college that users become aware of the library’s resources, usually while writing an assignment or research papers. More recently, a particular focus of inquiry was from MCAST lecturers to determine why students are not using peer-reviewed journals for their assignments and why they are using the internet as opposed to the library’s electronic resources to seek information.

This was seen as a critical issue by MCAST management, which is also affiliated with diverse examining bodies. These hold yearly audits of the usage of the library electronic resources to make sure that the students sitting for their exams are up to standard. Supporting research and learning activities has become a vital mission for academic libraries. In recent years, academic libraries were also faced with pressures regarding dismissed budgets, increased patron demands, and rising costs for book purchasing and online journal subscriptions (Key & Chang, 1999). Large amounts of money are spent yearly on electronic resources, which made MCAST question their usage. On the other hand, if MCAST will want to keep these resources and invest further, it might look at the eventual possibility of government funding. In this case, the library would need to show the importance of these services with a strategy by putting forward a plan of action to be eligible for any funding.

Understanding the way students navigate these resources will help MCAST to assess the method and practice of teaching to instruct students in-library use. Students nowadays are more web-savvy, having said that students may not have been exposed to library resources, or also they are not aware of the existing resources at the library.

Users of the library are made up of students, academic staff, and administration staff. Thereby the value of this study relates to the understanding of the usage of electronic resources by its users. MCAST is in the process of designing more courses at the Master’s level, thereby the study of the use of these library electronic resources will help to understand what change management might bed needed.

This study will attempt to identify which problems are associated with the use of electronic resources at MCAST. As such, the result of the findings of this study will contribute to the body of knowledge on the user’s usage of the library’s electronic resources. It will also be beneficial to academics, researchers, students, and professionals interested in this area of study.

Generally, if one can say that the use of electronic resources for sourcing information by students of a higher institution is a must, then this study is imperative.

Literature review

Literature Review (summary)

Change in technology, change in the management of libraries

Rapid technological innovation and new ways of learning and conducting research changed library traditions dramatically. Implications of technology and Electronic resource management especially has broadened the ways of academic libraries and their usage (Knight, 2017). The latest inclusion of e-resources and their usage is becoming a new trend in academic libraries, which is enhancing the efficiency of academics and student learnings. The digital libraries for academic research and learning purposes are expanding the vision of data and information collection and bringing the world of the information under a single click (Novak & Day, 2015).

This change management doesn’t only affect the existing academic library system but also the whole organization’s management system. The implementation of the electronic management system in academic libraries is something directly concerned with the interest of people and users (Kophuting & Mutshewa, 2017).

The organisations

From the organizations side, electronic resources provide several users can use cost-effective library system which doesn’t need too many shelves and space to bound, also a single piece of information at the same time in the form of e-books, journals, etc. (Novak & Day, 2015). The behaviour of users can be monitor easily, like how they access the data, what sort of information and format they are asking, and what developments and future updates an existing electronic library needs? The printed heavy books are changed into easy to read and access e-books which is not only beneficial for students, teaching staff but also for universities as well in reducing their library allotted budgets (Knight, 2017).

Library Staff

Library staff is being forced to keep themselves up-to-date with the current trends of the discipline at a faster speed than before. However, in some settings, there is circumstantial evidence to prove that some older staff is working in a library setup, especially those who are within five to seven years of retirement, may have no desire to accept the challenge to transition with the needs to the library and may actively resist change. Usually, managing change is not without challenges.

With the development of technology and sciences, there is more emphasis on the quality of staff rather than the quantity, major ICT and digital tools are available for students and teachers to find desired academic journals, reports, or research data. Electronic and digital libraries are empowering the learning techniques, research strategies, and access to the pool of information available online.

Analyzing Critical Incidents Stories to Understand Change Management Process in the Adoption of eResources at the University of Botswana Library

An academic library is attached to an academic institution (i.e., a university or college), to serve the teaching, learning, and research needs of students and staff. These libraries acquire, maintain, promote, and provide access to information resources in various formats (Sharma, 2009). According to Farley and colleagues (1998), academic librarianship has changed significantly over the last few decades than it has in its entire history, and libraries had to redefine their roles and understanding of what they do. The rate of change with the use of e-resources is now higher than ever before. Ajay (2011) observed that libraries had been pioneers in adapting themselves to new technologies, particularly in this era of ICTs. The technological advances have affected libraries and student learning in an unprecedented way. Today, we see wider Internet access, availability of multimedia learning materials, the rise of electronic journals, and the convergence between libraries (Morgan, 2001). Library sources, services, and operations have also undergone tremendous change due to rapid technological innovations over the years (Siddiqui, 2003). Also affected in a significant measure is the library staff who provide frontline services and those who plan for them. Academic libraries are in a state of change, evolving to become information or resource centers, while the role of the librarian has changed from that of a custodian of books into that of a facilitator of information access (Adeyoyin et al., 2012). According to Adeyoyin and colleagues (2012), a librarian who is ICT literate is a valued professional, an agent of information transfer, and an advocate for information accessibility.

Libraries (Kophuting & Mutshewa, 2017).

Users Perspective

Find something on these studies from the user perspective

Find something on electronic resources problems at colleges and the need to investigate- maybe to use a strategy

Methodology and data collection

One of the methods I chose to use is a self-administered survey questionnaire. I found that this method will be appropriate for the type of research I am going to undertake because it will reach the target audience quickly and the data collected will also be easy to describe in terms of analysis. This method will allow me to obtain accurate information, and it is also cost-effective. The target respondents will be library users that consist of students, lecturers, and admin staff. This method will contribute to the generation of accurate data.

I will also make use of secondary data by extracting analytics from the platforms used by the library, with this I will be able to provide an understanding of the frequency of the information being requested thereby how the services are being used. (BIEX NARA L GAP BETWEEN WHA THE USERS ARE SAYING AND WHAT THE DATA SHOWS).

Ethical concerns

The nature of the research method and measures selected determines the approach I will take towards research ethics. Various considerations were taken before taking up this research.

The research will not only aim to be beneficial, but it also avoided creating any harm to the participants. It will follow the main ethical principles, which include:

• minimising the risk of harm;
• obtaining informed consent;
• protecting anonymity and confidentiality;
• avoiding deceptive practices; and
• providing the right to withdraw.

As for the organisation due consideration was given to undertake this study. The organisation consent form is signed thereby they will be informed of the research that t will be done and also who is going to participate in this study.

Bibliography

Knight, J. A. (2017). Academic librarians as change champions: A framework for managing change. Library Management, 38(6/7), 294–301. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-03-2017-0031

Kophuting, T. W., & Mutshewa, A. (2017). Analyzing Critical Incidents Stories to Understand Change Management Process in the Adoption of e-Resources at the University of Botswana Library. International Information & Library Review, 49(4), 249–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/10572317.2017.1301236

Novak, J., & Day, A. (2015). The Libraries They Are A-Changin’: How Libraries Reorganize. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 22(3–4), 358–373. https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2015.1067663