Teaching and Fostering Information Literacy Programmes: A Survey of Five University Libraries in Africa

Autor/inn/en	Baro, Emmanuel E.; Keboh, Tarela
Titel	Teaching and Fostering Information Literacy Programmes: A Survey of Five University Libraries in Africa
Quelle	In: Journal of Academic Librarianship, 38 (2012) 5, S.311-315 (5 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0099-1333
DOI	10.1016/j.acalib.2012.07.001
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Foreign Countries; Developing Nations; Information Literacy; Academic Libraries; Library Instruction; Barriers; Interests; Human Resources; Access to Computers; Distance Education; Policy; School Surveys; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Developing country; Developing countries; Entwicklungsland; Informationskompetenz; College; Colleges; University; Universities; Libary; Libraries; Hochschule; Fachhochschule; Universität; Bibliothek; Hochschulbibliothek; Bibliotheksverzeichnis; Bildungsinteresse; Humankapital; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Politik; Afrika
Abstract	Information Literacy (IL) is recognized around the world as an essential skill for the information society. The aim of the paper is to examine the various information literacy practices in university libraries in Africa, to identify the barriers facing IL programmes in Africa, and to provide suggestions on how best to improve IL practices. A survey of five leading university libraries in Africa showed them mainly practicing IL training by means such as library tours/orientation sessions, introductory information skills classes, and teaching advanced information skills (e.g. database searching). There are, however, many barriers: a lack of interest by students, professors, and library management; inadequate human resources to teach IL; lack of facilities; low use of distance education for teaching IL, and an absence of IL policies. This column argues that university authorities in Africa and other developing countries must see the need to provide the necessary facilities such as: computers with Internet connectivity in university libraries, regular power supply, training for librarians on IT, and most of all, librarians should collaborate with other stakeholders in their institutions to ensure IL policy formulation and implementation in their institutions. (Contains 6 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10