Patrick Ngulube

The management of public records and archives in the member countries of ESARBICA

This article discusses the findings of a cross-sectional study conducted between 2004 and 2005 to determine the extent to which archival institutions within the East and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA) region managed public records and archives. It is important that public records and archives are managed efficiently and effectively because the information they contain is the cornerstone of holding government accountable and fostering good governance. Data for the research were obtained through interviews, content analysis of documents and self-administered questionnaires that were mailed to the 13 member states that comprised ESARBICA. The study revealed that national archives within ESARBICA had limited resources for records management functions. Secondly, records management processes were neither governed by standards nor guided by a professional code of ethics. Thirdly, records management staff were not adequately trained. Fourthly, electronic records were in danger of being lost due to benign neglect. Fifthly, legislation that mandated archival institutions to manage records through their life-cycle was not comprehensive in certain instances. Sixthly, strategies used for public programming activities were rather limited and not clearly targeted at some archival institutions. However, there was growing recognition that stakeholders were best served by the management of records throughout their life-cycle.

Access and use of agricultural information and knowledge in Tanzania

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to assess access to and use of agricultural knowledge and information in the rural areas of Tanzania.Design/methodology/approach – Mixed quantitative, qualitative and participatory methods were deployed. Semi‐structured interviews were used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 181 farmers in six districts of Tanzania. Focus groups and participatory techniques (i.e. information mapping and linkage diagrams) were also used to collect qualitative data from 128 farmers in the same districts.Findings – The results showed that deep, rich and complete data can be collected through the mixed quantitative, qualitative and participatory techniques. The findings demonstrated that the knowledge and information needs, and information‐seeking patterns of farmers were location specific. The major sources of information for farmers were predominantly local (neighbours, friends and family), followed by public extension services. Apart from radio and cell phones, advanced...

Managing and Preserving Indigenous Knowledge in the Knowledge Management Era: challenges and opportunities for information professionals

Managing knowledge in general and indigenous knowledge in particular has become an important and valuable input in the management of sustainable development programmes. Historically, indigenous knowledge has been downplayed in the management of information. The tendency among library and information professionals has been to emphasize recorded knowledge at the expense of unrecorded indigenous knowledge. However, the growing realization that indigenous knowledge has a role to play in national development as well as the knowledge management environment has led to the growth of interest in preserving and managing it. The major challenges to the management and preservation of indigenous knowledge are issues relating to collection development, intellectual property rights, access and the preservation media.

Utilisation and prevalence of mixed methods research in library and information research in South Africa 2002-2008

This article explores the use of mixed methods research (MMR) in library and information science (LIS) research in South Africa from 2000 to 2008. The authors contrast the mixed methods research debate in the general methodological literature to how this method was practiced within the LIS scientific community. They reviewed 613 research articles published in six peer-reviewed LIS journals in South Africa, finding the research methods in these journals to be surveys drawing on positivistic assumptions and cross-sectional designs, and historical research based on constructivist knowledge claims. Mixed methods approaches that the authors identified in the methodological literature have had little impact on LIS research in South Africa. Given these limitations, the authors argue for greater methodological pluralism in conducting research in LIS and recommend the use of mixed methods research.

Relationship between records management, public service delivery and the attainment of the United Nations millennium development goals in Kenya

The paper discusses the relationship between records management, public service delivery and the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Kenya. It defines the concept of records management and provides an overview of the current socio-political and economic environment in Kenya. The concept of public service delivery is defined, including the application of the concept in Kenya. The link between records management, public service delivery and the attainment of UN MDGs is explored. Recent research findings regarding current recordkeeping practices in the Kenyan public sector and their effect on service delivery and attainment of UN MDGs are presented. The paper concludes by positing that poor records management practices would have adverse consequences for public service delivery in Kenya and hamper the attainment of the UN MDGs. Thus, to achieve economic development in line with the UN MDGs, public offices need to have in place good recordkeeping systems.

A theoretical model to predict customer satisfaction in relation to service quality in selected university libraries in Sri Lanka

University library administrators in Sri Lanka have begun to search for alternative ways to satisfy their clientele on the basis of service quality. This article aims at providing a theoretical model to facilitate the identification of service quality attributes and domains that may be used to predict customer satisfaction from a service quality perspective. The effectiveness of existing service quality models such as LibQUAL, SERVQUAL and SERVPREF have been questioned. In that regard, this study developed a theoretical model for academic libraries in Sri Lanka based on the disconfirmation and performance-only paradigms. These perspectives were considered by researchers to be the core mechanism to develop service quality/customer satisfaction models. The attributes and domain identification of service quality was carried out with a stratified sample of 263 participants selected from postgraduate and undergraduate students and academic staff members from the faculties of Arts in four universities in Sri Lanka. The study established that responsiveness, supportiveness, building environment, collection and access, furniture and facilities, technology, Web services and service delivery were quality domains which can be used to predict customer satisfaction. The theoretical model is unique in its domain structure compared to the existing models. The model needs to be statistically tested to make it valid and parsimonious.

Professionalism and ethics in records management in the public sector in Zimbabwe

This paper is a report of a study that looks at the practice of records management in the public sector in Zimbabwe and the extent to which records management, within Zimbabwe, can be regarded as a profession. The study reveals that records are mishandled and abused suggesting a lack of ethics. Those with the job title records manager have neither specialized training nor a code of ethics. The conclusions drawn are that, in Zimbabwe, records management has not yet been professionalized. The paper then suggests that the adoption of a code of ethics might lead to the professionalization of records management.

Environmental monitoring and control at national archives and libraries in eastern and southern Africa

When national archivists and national librarians select and acquire materials, they should ensure that the materials are accessible over time. All their efforts may come to naught if the documentary materials were lost as result of being exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Environmental control and monitoring are keys to preventive preservation strategies in the management of collections in libraries and archives. Libraries and archives may fail to provide access to their holdings over time if they do not take preventive measures to protect their holdings into the future. The current study investigated environmental management at national archival institutions and national libraries in eastern and southern Africa. The results revealed that little attention was being paid to environmental control and monitoring as a collection management strategy.

Guidelines and standards for records management education and training: a model for Anglophone Africa

This article gives an overview of education and training of records managers in anglophone Africa and then focuses on standards for training of archivist and records managers. Using South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework and the South African Qualifications Authority guidelines, a training model that can be used elsewhere in Africa with some adjustments is suggested. The article recognises that there can be no one set of universally standard desirable outcomes for all educational institutions, as the outcomes must depend on the institution’s nature and mission. Whilst the teaching and learning processes may differ between countries, there should be a substantial commonality in the outcomes achieved. Thus it would be possible to have generic processes of assessment and accreditation. Adherence to standards is key to the generic process of accreditation and professional mobility.

Implications of technological advances for access to the cultural heritage of selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Public records and archives constitute a valuable part of sub-Saharan Africas (SSA) cultural heritage. However, technological advances threaten long-term access to public records and archives. The computer (and its associated technologies) is the major driving force behind the technological changes affecting access to information. The use of information technologies has led to the proliferation of digital information. There are significant challenges associated with ensuring access to digital materials into the future as compared with traditionally paper-based information. A recent survey of selected countries from SSA revealed that long-term access to records and archives is going to be hampered by lack of resources and plans for ensuring access to information resulting from the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The development of strategies for managing digital documents over time is key to accessing the cultural heritage of SSA by the present and future generations.