Dennis N. Ocholla

Information needs and information-seeking behavior of artisan fisher folk of Uganda

This article examines the information needs, information-seeking behavior, and the impact of information use on artisan fisher folk and extension agents at three major lakes in Uganda. The findings reveal that fisher folk require different kinds of information to carry out fishing activities effectively. The methods they favor for accessing information are described, and the role of government departments in fisheries information provision is highlighted. The study recommends what could be done to provide the fisher folk with information.

Curriculum Response to a Changing National and International Information Environment: Theoretical and Methodological Paradigms on Review and Revision

A method and apparatus is provided for determining the attenuation coefficients within a body of material by transmitting sonic pressure pulses into the material, analyzing the spectrum amplitude of the echoes returning from the boundaries within the material, calculating the attenuation coefficients of the material between the boundaries and comparing the measured coefficients to those of normal and abnormal tissue. The wave shape of the transmitted pulses is adjusted so that the pulses generate echoes with uniform spectrum amplitude (white echoes) from each boundary within the material. Given the characteristics of the pulses which generate white echoes from the boundaries of each tissue segment and given the thickness of the material between each pair of boundaries, the attenuation coefficients of the material are calculated. The attenuation coefficients are displayed in any manner desired, including traditional B- and M-mode displays.

The current status and challenges of collaboration in library and information studies (LIS) education and training in Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current status and challenges of collaboration in library and information education and training in Africa.Design/methodology/approach – The paper largely draws examples from experiential knowledge and observation; basic bibliometric analysis; and studying related institutional documents as well as African studies in the domain.Findings – Most of the library and information studies (LIS) schools are based in Anglophone Africa and located within universities. Common trends of LIS education are shared by most LIS schools in Africa. Major challenges facing LIS education include the regulation of student numbers, knowledge and diversification of LIS job markets, funding of LIS schools, the development of technology infrastructures both in quantity and quality, allowing efficient access and the continued development of education through short courses that provide new knowledge, skills and attitudes to LIS workers. Collaboration of LIS schools in the region ...

Research in Library and Information Science in South Africa : an analysis of journal research output from 1993-2006

This paper intends to promote an awareness of the overall research output in library and information science in South Africa, and is based on a publication count and analysis of peer refereed articles indexed in the LISA and Thompson Scientific (formely ISI) Web of Science databases (SCI,SSCI,A&HCI) between 1993 and 2006, using journal, subject and author indicators for the analysis. The recommendations are in favour of expanding the publication threshold by diversifying the output such that it includes currently marginalised domains.

An overview of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the LIS schools of Eastern and Southern Africa

Explores and analyses the status and use of ICT in LIS Departments/Schools in selected Eastern and Southern African countries in relation to learning, teaching, research, academic administration, and resource support. ICT is dealt with in the context of information storage, retrieval, communication, interactive learning, MIS and use technologies. Qualitative methods were mainly used in information collection, analysis and reporting. Opinions of Directors/Heads of LIS Departments/Schools or their representatives in seven countries were collected by an e-mailed open-ended questionnaire that was sampled purposively. The conclusion is reached that although many LIS schools in the region increasingly exploit and use ICT, underdeveloped infrastructure, inadequate resources and lack of adequate skills among staff to explore the technologies extensively, maintain existing disparities. Although students and lecturers have an overwhelming interest in learning about and using ICT, LIS institutions in South Africa (that are better endowed with regard to infrastructure and resources) exploit ICT more effectively and to a far greater extent than their counterparts in other sub-Saharan African countries. Other hidden variables are also identified and discussed. The paper provides useful information for comparative studies as well as an agenda for research on auditing ICT capacity in LIS schools in the region.

Information and Communication Technologies in Small and Medium Scale Tourism Enterprises in Durban, South Africa

The objectives of this paper are to identify factors influencing the adoption of innovations, specifically e-commerce readiness and to identify specific barriers or obstacles to the use of ICT by small and medium tourism enterprises in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Enterprises studied included guesthouses, lodges and self-catering, bed and breakfast, and tour operators. A survey research design was adopted and data collected through interviews, observation and administration of a structured questionnaire. The results reveal that high cost, limited funds and not knowing what to adopt are perceived as barriers to the diffusion of ICTs among the tourism service providers in the study.

Diversity in the library and information workplace: a South African perspective

Discusses diversity in the South African library and information work environment recognising major theories of diversity, and describing diversity provisions in the Constitution, policies and legislation of South Africa. Observes that diversity is not a focus issue in the library and information work environment and speculates that such insignificant attention to diversity could arise from the assumption that existing policies and legislation are sufficient to manage diversity interests. There is also a fear that making an issue on diversity can divide people rather than unite. Recommends that a major research project be conducted on diversity in the library and information workplace to provide insight into the true situation and help in strategizing, planning and intervention.

An informetric investigation of the relatedness of opportunistic infections to HIV/AIDS

This work presents preliminary findings of a broader content analysis study of the AIDS literature as published and reflected in key bibliographic databases. Specifically, this study focuses on the relatedness of the AIDS-defining diseases in persons with documented HIV infection--otherwise known as Opportunistic Infections (OIs)--to HIV/AIDS by measuring their strengths of association. Ultimately, the project aims at assisting researchers and other stakeholders to identify new research areas and the linkages among these areas in HIV/AIDS research and assist policy makers to map the dynamics of HIV/AIDS research in order to do research planning and formulate appropriate policies. Among many other objectives, the current study sought to test the hypothesis that, through the analysis of published articles, one could show the disease-gene relationship. Documents related to OIs and HIV/AIDS were retrieved and downloaded from the MEDLINE database. The co-word analysis algorithm was used to calculate the strength S of association between the descriptors (i.e. the OIs and HIV/AIDS). The findings of this study correlate with the general observation by medical practitioners as regards the common OIs in AIDS patients. Those infections that are said to be the most common in HIV-infected persons exhibited stronger associations than the less common infections. The strength of association was highest with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) while it was lowest with Shigella. Whereas the association between the diseases and HIV/AIDS has weakened over the last two decades, relatively, there has been continued growth of literature, both on HIV/AIDS and OIs. Finally, this study strongly demonstrates the use of informetrics techniques in assessing the relatedness of a disease to the pathogens that are associated with it.

Auditing of information and communication technologies in library and information science education in Africa

This study mapped and audited the types, nature and diffusion of ICTs in LIS education in sub-Saharan Africa. Questionnaires were sent to 51 LIS schools in 19 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, of which 29 (57%) were returned. Most LIS schools have a significant ICT content in their programs, and most ICT modules are highly rated as core/required within these programs. Practical training for ICT skills was included in all modules but to a limited extent. ICT use in teaching and learning was largely focused on computer literacy, followed by use of ICT in bulletin boards, distance learning and collaborative teaching. Only a few African LIS schools, with significant growth in South Africa, employ online teaching. ICT is used in research mainly to collect research information, to identify sources for research funds and to apply research tools such as statistical packages. There was also evidence of strong use of ICT for academic administration largely through stand alone PCs or offline. Computer hardware availability was noted to be low as the number of computers in terms of computer student or staff ratio is extremely low. While a variety of computer software is available in the market with Microsoft products leading the market, softwarelicensing requirements are problematic because of cost and infringements. Most institutions have set up mechanisms to provide staff with ICT competency, and evidently the agenda for ICT development for LIS education in Africa is still quite long. Such an agenda should always include provision of resources and better ICT infrastructure, staff development, ICT policy, ICT accessibility for students and staff, curriculum development, collaboration and networking for resource sharing, distance learning education, practical education/training for skills development, experiential learning, and integration of ICT in LIS education.

Information ethics education in Africa. Where do we stand

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