Collection development practices in academic libraries in Tanzania
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of librarianship and information science
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the collection development practices in academic libraries in Tanzania. Specifically, the study examined the collection development practices and factors that influence these practices. The study involved four academic libraries and employed both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. Primary data were collected through informant interviews, observations and questionnaires methods. The study involved 44 library staff who filled in self-administered questionnaires. The study discloses that collection development practices and particularly evaluation and weeding or deselection are rarely conducted at these academic libraries. The findings further reveal that collection development practices in academic libraries in Tanzania are constrained by inadequate funding, lack of skills for hybrid collection management and lack of collection development policy catering for both print- and electronic-based information resources. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that academic libraries should establish a comprehensive collection development policy and introduce professional development programmes to library staff for efficient management of hybrid collections.
Description
A research paper submitted to the journal of librarianship and information science, Vol. 52, NO.4 of 2020, Pg.1152–1168
Keywords
Academic library, collection development practices, print and e-resources, professional development programmes, Tanzania
Citation
APA