Conference and Workshop Papers (LSD)

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http://192.168.30.20:4000/handle/123456789/123

Welcome to the Conference and Workshop Papers collection within the Mzumbe University Institutional Repository (MUIR), dedicated to the Library Community. This curated collection serves as a testament to the vibrant intellectual discussions and knowledge exchange that have taken place during conferences and workshops within our esteemed community. Here, we present a diverse array of papers that reflect the cutting-edge research, insights, and collaborative efforts of our dedicated librarians, scholars, and professionals. As we navigate the evolving landscape of library science, this repository stands as a valuable resource, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. We invite you to delve into this collection, explore the wealth of knowledge it holds, and join us in advancing the field of library studies at Mzumbe University

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Deployment of My Library On Finger Tips application at Mzumbe University: Challenges and prospects
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2024) Ngusi, Jesca Beliad; Goodluck E, Mosha
This study aims to explore the deployment of My Library On Finger Tips (MyLOFT) at Mzumbe University (MU). Specifically, it investigates users’ awareness and perception of MyLOFT, its promotion, challenges, and strategies to maximise usage of the MyLOFT application. The study employed a blended methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, to analyse 67 academic staff members’ experiences with the MyLOFT application at the selected University. Sample size determination utilised PPS and purposive sampling methods. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 20 and presented in graphs and tables, while qualitative data underwent content analysis and were presented in quoted statements. The study reveals that e-resource usage at MU was low before MyLOFT deployment, but increased after deployment. Word of mouth and email effectively created awareness, and MyLOFT Student Ambassadors promoted the application. Users found features like Multiple Access and Save Content Off and Online as the most appealing. Challenges identified include technical issues, navigation difficulties, unclear instructions, mobile compatibility, and security. To maximise the MyLOFT utilisation, the application should include personalised content, resolving technical issues, utilising student ambassadors for promotion, incentivising usage, and improve the interface. The University should add relevant databases. Effective communication, user feedback, and impact measurement are essential for continual optimisation. This study therefore explores e-resources remote access applications in Tanzanian academic libraries, filling a research gap and providing valuable insights for future developments.
Majukumu ya msingi ya Maktaba katika kuleta mabadiliko kwenye sekta yaelimu nchini Tanzania: Uchunguzi yakinifu
(Tanzania Library Service Board (TLSB), 2022-11-24) Mosha, Goodluck E.
Sekta ya elimu ni msingi wa maendeleo ya taifa, inatoa mchango na nguvu na ya kuboresha maisha ya watu. Elimu ni haki ya msingi kwa kila mtu. Maktaba na elimu ni dhana zisizotenganishwa; maktaba ni sehemu muhimu ya taasisi za elimu, zikichangia katika kujisomea na utafiti. Utafiti umebainisha kuwa maktaba ni muhimu katika kuimarisha hamu (reading passion) ya kusoma na kuongeza ujuzi wa wanafunzi. Mwongozo wa Viwango na Sheria ya Elimu ya Vyuo Vikuu Tanzania unaweka viwango vya maktaba kwa vyuo vikuu ili kuhakikisha ubora wa elimu. Katika miaka ya 1970, Tanzania ilianzisha maktaba za vijijini kusaidia Elimu ya Watu Wazima na kuongeza kiwango cha kusoma na kuandika. Hata hivyo, kiwango cha elimu kimeshuka tangu miaka ya 1990 kutokana na changamoto kama ukosefu wa wakutubi wenye ujuzi, bajeti pungufu, na ukosefu wa maktaba za kisasa. Ili kuboresha elimu, huduma ya maktaba shuleni inapaswa kupewa kipaumbele. Maktaba zinahitaji bajeti ya kutosha, vitabu vya kisasa, na teknolojia ya kidigitali. Pia, maktaba zishirikiane na wadau wengine na kutumia mitandao ya kijamii kuwafikia watumiaji hususani wanafunzi. Maktaba ni muhimu kwa kila mkakati wa kisomo, elimu, na maendeleo ya kijamii. Zinaweza kuwa sehemu ya uvumbuzi wa maarifa na kutoa huduma zinazolenga mahitaji ya watumiaji. Kuwa na maktaba bora kutasaidia kuboresha elimu na maendeleo ya taifa kwa ujumla.
Constraints facing African academic libraries in applying electronic security systems to protect library materials
(International journal of librarianship, 2023) Kotoroi, Gladness
This article reviews published literature to identify factors that impede the application of electronic security systems (ESSs) in protecting library materials in African academic libraries. The information for the study was gathered through a review of online literature from databases, namely ProQuest, EBSCO, Emerald, Library Literature, Research Gate Information, and Google search engine. The scope of the literature covered the time when African academic libraries began to use ESSs to protect their collections to the present. It covered only literature that addresses the challenges that hinder African academic libraries from utilizing ESSs to protect library materials. Information was collected by reading the abstracts and conclusion of the online documents. In the beginning, a total of 91 articles were collected as a population of the study. However, only fifty-four (54) articles were found to be relevant to the area of the study. Basic keywords and advanced searching, namely truncations, headings, Boolean operators, electronic security systems, academic libraries, security, African Libraries, theft and mutilation were also used to get relevant literature on the topic from peer-reviewed and scholarly resources. Based on the findings of the reviewed literatures it is concluded that African academic libraries undergo nearly the same challenges where most of which can be addressed because they are generated by the managements, library staff and the environment in which the libraries operate rather than the ESSs. The researcher recommends that African academic library managements should cope with the technological changes so as to compete with the market demand. With that regard, the reported ESSs challenges facing African academic libraries should be aggressively addressed in order to make the application of ESSs effective. Equally, another study should be carried out to inform about the ramifications of not addressing electronic security systems
Developing e-resources utilization strategies for Tanzanian higher learning institutions: A case of Mzumbe University
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2021) Mosha, Goodluck E.; Siyao, Peter; Nyakwaka, David O.
This paper aims to examine the development of e-resources utilisation strategies for Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania taking the case of Mzumbe University. Data for this study were collected from three major sources: five Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania (UDSM, SUA, MUHAS, CBE, & NM-AIST), e-resources usage statistics from COTUL subscribed databases for the MU library and views from the MU library users. Usage statistics from COTUL subscribed e-databases provided quantitative data which were supplemented with experiences from five visited HLIs and views from MU internal stakeholder forums. The study outlined the roles and functions of all Mzumbe University organs in promoting and advocating the use of subscribed e-resources. The MU organs ranged from the university management, schools, faculties, and directorates including the library, institutes and the MU students’ organization. Specifically, MU Library was assigned the role of training users, creating online e-resource discussion forums, improving library websites, acquiring e-resources remote access software, promoting and advocating e-resources use, and employing knowledge ambassadors. The study identified challenges encountered in implementing the strategies which include poor ICT infrastructure, shortage of librarians with e-resources skills and interest, the meagre budget allocated to the library, insufficient specialized subject contents from subscribed databases, and poor cooperation between academic staff and the librarians. Since the library renders cross-cutting functions to the University, the task of promoting e-resources usage was recommended to be played by every organ at the University. The University is urged to speed up subscription /acquisition of e-resources remote access tools which will be enhancing e-resources utilization. Additionally, the maximum utilisation of e-resources will be fully achieved by changing the mindset of lecturers and students from relying solely on print to e-resources. This study was not able to extract all usage statistics from the 24 databases at Mzumbe University because some database vendors particularly free databases do not release COUNTER statistics. Based on the findings of this study, Mzumbe University Library may: decide and inform COTUL on which e-resource databases to renew; propose measures to improve the usage of e-resources and lay down University-wide e-resource strategies to improve utilization strategies. This paper is based on original usage statistics provided by the e-resource vendors in the COUNTER format and interviews administered to some selected respondents. Related literature has been reviewed and used, and appropriate citations and references have been acknowledged. The paper has been checked through Turnitin plagiarism detecting software.
Pivotal roles of the libraries in transforming education sector in Tanzania: a critical look
(TLA, 2022) Mosha, Goodluck E.
Aim & Background: This study aims at establishing the role which can be played by libraries in the transformation of the education sector taking the case of the United Republic of Tanzania. The author delineates the roles libraries need to play in the transforming educational sector in Tanzania. The study is based on the premise that if library resources and facilities will not be improved the transformation of the education sector in the country will not be positively realized. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted to form data for this study. E-databases subscribed by Mzumbe University were searched to identify scholarly works on the role of the library in transforming the education sector. A total of sixteen papers qualified to be used in this study. Results obtained from the review were synthesized into a narrative text. Results: It was noted that the time between the 1970s to early 1990s education transformation in Tanzania was linked with libraries' myriad roles in education were vividly seen. As of the mid-1990s, a lot of challenges inhibited libraries from playing their role in supporting transformation in the education sector in Tanzania. The study suggested possible solutions to revamp the role of the library in transforming the educational sector in the country. Conclusion and Recommendations: Libraries are vital institutions, which cannot be separated from education. The presence of libraries is crucial and indispensable to education in a nation. Teachers’ education curriculum in Tanzania should include library education courses so that where a library lacks trained library staff teachers can assist in library management and in equipping students with basic information literacy skills. Keywords: Libraries, Educational sector, Education transformation, Adults education, Tanzania, Library and education, mobile libraries,
A 14 - years mapping of research productivity of the School of Business academicians at Mzumbe University, Tanzania: A bibliometrics analysis
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2022) Shemahonge, Adam. H.; Mosha, Goodluck E.; Siyao, Peter, O.
The purpose of this study is to determine the research productivity of the School of Business (SoB) academic staff at Mzumbe University between 2007 and 2020. The study employed a mixed approach to data collection. A total of 58 SoB academic staff were used in this study. Quantitative data were extracted from google scholar using the Publish or Perish (PoP) software. Qualitative data were collected using an interview guide. The quantitative data were analysed using a Microsoft Excel Spread sheet whereas qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The findings indicate that a total of 253 publications were recorded for all 14 years yielding a low yearly average of 18.07 publications for all academicians and an average of only 4.4 publications for each SoB academician. Individual productivity analysis shows Dr. Hawa Tundui as the top-ranking academician with 20 publications. The distribution of citations for SoB academicians has Dr. Ernest Mwasalwiba ranking first with 924 citations. The authorship pattern at SoB was dominated by single-authored publications 100 (40%) followed by two-authored publications 87 (34%) with an average of 0.49 degree of collaboration. The subject-wise distribution reveals that SoB academic staff are more interested in writing on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and business area. With regard to the journal of preference, most of the SoB scholars prefer to publish in the Uongozi Journal of Management and Development Dynamics (UJMDD). This bibliometrics analysis was limited to SoB. Other studies should cover all MU schools, faculties, directorates and other campuses. To improve the growth of research and publications at MU, collaborations in research and publications; formulating a friendly and favourable research policy; awareness creation about online research platforms such as registering on Google Scholar among MU academicians, Research Gate and ORCID among others and capacity building in publishing skills are highly recommended. This is the first time a bibliometrics analysis has been conducted to determine research productivity at MU and which covered a field of business in Tanzania
Developing e-resources utilisation strategies for Tanzanian higher learning institutions: a case of Mzumbe University
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2022) Mosha, Goodluck E.; Siyao, Peter O.; Nyakwaka, David O.
This paper aims to examine the development of e-resources utilisation strategies for Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania taking the case of Mzumbe University. Data for this study were collected from three major sources: five Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania (UDSM, SUA, MUHAS, CBE, & NM-AIST), e-resources usage statistics from COTUL subscribed databases for the MU library and views from the MU library users. Usage statistics from COTUL subscribed e-databases provided quantitative data which were supplemented with experiences from five visited HLIs and views from MU internal stakeholder forums. The study outlined the roles and functions of all Mzumbe University organs in promoting and advocating the use of subscribed e- resources. The MU organs ranged from the university management, schools, faculties, and directorates including the library, institutes and the MU students’ organization. Specifically, MU Library was assigned the role of training users, creating online e- resource discussion forums, improving library websites, acquiring e-resources remote access software, promoting and advocating e-resources use, and employing knowledge ambassadors. The study identified challenges encountered in implementing the strategies which include poor ICT infrastructure, shortage of librarians with e-resources skills and interest, the meagre budget allocated to the library, insufficient specialized subject contents from subscribed databases, and poor cooperation between academic staff and the librarians. Since the library renders cross-cutting functions to the University, the task of promoting e-resources usage was recommended to be played by every organ at the University. The University is urged to speed up subscription /acquisition of e-resources remote access tools which will be enhancing e-resources utilisation. Additionally, the maximum utilisation of e-resources will be fully achieved by changing the mindset of lecturers and students from relying solely on print to e-resources. This study was not able to extract all usage statistics from the 24 databases at Mzumbe University because some database vendors particularly free databases do not release COUNTER statistics. Based on the findings of this study, Mzumbe University Library may: decide and inform COTUL on which e-resource databases to renew; propose measures to improve the usage of e- resources and lay down University-wide e-resource strategies to improve utilisation strategies. This paper is based on original usage statistics provided by the e-resource vendors in the COUNTER format and interviews administered to some selected respondents. Related literature has been reviewed and used, and appropriate citation sand references have been acknowledged. The paper has been checked through Turnitin plagiarism detecting software.
Evaluation of APA citation and referencing style for dissertations uploaded in the Mzumbe University Institutional Repository
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2023) Mshana, Sofia,; Mosha, Goodluck E.; Siyao, Peter Onauphoo
Citation and referencing are paramount aspects of any scholarly and scientific writing. They are part of indications that the authors have done justice to the works of others and are one of the ways of avoiding plagiarism. This study was conducted to examine the extent to which postgraduate students at Mzumbe University adhere to the APA citation and referencing style in their dissertations uploaded to the Mzumbe Institutional Repository (MUIR) platform for the year between 2013 through 2019. This study employed a cross-sectional research design, which enables data to be collected at a single point in time. A mixed approach was used as the data collection method. A random sampling technique was used to select 128 dissertations from a population of 1056 dissertations uploaded in the MUIR between 2013 and 2019 for content analysis. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select a total of five postgraduate students and three lecturers who were involved in the interviews. Five research methods course outlines were also purposively selected to check if they contain topics or sub-topics on citation and referencing. Microsoft Spreadsheet was used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. The findings show that a total of 70; 54.7 per cent of dissertations uploaded in the MUIR for seven years adhered to in-text citation APA style guidelines whereas 58; 45.3 per cent of dissertations did not adhere to the APA citation and referencing style. Major irregularities identified were unnecessary capitalisation, poor insertion of punctuation marks, incorrect use of ‘et al’ and lack of uniformity in writing the lists of references. The findings also showed that only one out of five postgraduate programme course outlines had a sub-topic on citation and referencing instructions. This study concludes that there was poor quality of in-text citations and referencing among postgraduate dissertations submitted to the MUIR between the years 2013 to 2019. This calls for serious intervention. The study calls upon responsible university units to employ strategies which will help in enforcing students’ compliance with dissertation writing guidelines. To ensure compliance, supervisors and external examiners should pay adequate attention to citation and referencing styles when supervising and examining theses and dissertations. There is a need of reviewing postgraduate research methods courses to add a topic on citation and referencing styles. University should also subscribe and sensitise postgraduate students on the importance of using reference management tools for improved citations and referencing styles in academic writing.
Equipping library users with digital literacy skills as a solution to COVID-19 and other similar disasters: Lessons from Mzumbe University library users
(Dar es Salaam University Press (DUP), 2023) Josephat, W.; Mosha, G.; Siyao, P.
The need for equipping students in Higher Learning Institutions with Digital Literacy Skills (DLS) is considered one of the measures that can enable academic libraries to deliver library services during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This study aims at answering the following question: What types of digital literacy skills and tools were used by academic libraries during the COVID-19 closure of the universities. It also aims at analysing the way digital literacy skills could be used to support library services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Similarly, it examines barriers which inhibited the deployment of digital literacy skills during its outbreak. The study adopted a case study design while using a mixed approach to data collection. A total of 46 respondents were drawn from the population using both census sampling and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using interview–guides, questionnaires and documentary reviews. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis while quantitative data were analysed using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. The findings indicated that academic library is required to cooperate with faculties and schools by deploying the following digital tools: e-learning platforms, increasing the use of social media, conducting webinars, updating the library website, encouraging the use of library e-resources and improving the library virtual reference services. The following barriers were strongly mentioned as inhibitors of equipping respondents with digital literacy skills: poor internet connectivity, family income status, lack of comprehensive training on digital literacy skills, attitudes of lecturers towards digital literacy skills and lack of teleworking culture among librarians, students and lecturers. It was also noted that the deployment of digital literacy skills was worsened by an acute shortage of funding and resources. The study concludes that for libraries to effectively deliver library services both librarians and users must possess the necessary digital literacy skills. The ICT infrastructure, on the other hand, must be improved to enable libraries to apply digital literacy tools and facilities in the delivery of library services. The need to overhaul library training programmes adding a course on digital literacy skills and deployment of other emerging technologies in the delivery of library services. This study is anticipated to provide insights into the conditions of academic libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study findings will be an eye opener to academic libraries that they have to undergo rapid transformations which will enable them to stay relevant and able to provide services during the pandemic and similar disasters.
Pivotal roles of the libraries in transforming education sector in Tanzania:
(TLSB, 2022) Mosha Goodluck E.
Aim & Background: This study aims at establishing the role which can be played by libraries in the transformation of the education sector taking the case of the United Republic of Tanzania. The author delineates the roles libraries need to play in the transforming educational sector in Tanzania. The study is based on the premise that if library resources and facilities will not be improved the transformation of the education sector in the country will not be positively realized. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted to form data for this study. E-databases subscribed by Mzumbe University were searched to identify scholarly works on the role of the library in transforming the education sector. A total of sixteen papers qualified to be used in this study. Results obtained from the review were synthesized into a narrative text. Results: It was noted that the time between the 1970s to early 1990s education transformation in Tanzania was linked with libraries' myriad roles in education were vividly seen. As of the mid-1990s, a lot of challenges inhibited libraries from playing their role in supporting transformation in the education sector in Tanzania. The study suggested possible solutions to revamp the role of the library in transforming the educational sector in the country. Conclusion and Recommendations: Libraries are vital institutions, which cannot be separated from education. The presence of libraries is crucial and indispensable to education in a nation. Teachers’ education curriculum in Tanzania should include library education courses so that where a library lacks trained library staff teachers can assist in library management and in equipping students with basic information literacy skills. Keywords: Libraries, Educational sector, Education transformation, Adults education, Tanzania, Library and education, mobile libraries,

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