Browsing by Author "Leonard, Anna"

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    Does quality assessment matter in an academic library?: A case study of the University of Namibia library
    (2021) Niskala, Ritva; Leonard, Anna
    Reliable tools for measuring service quality and demonstrating the impact of services are becoming more and more important in library sector development. Measuring quality is not only an administrative factor. In-depth quality assessment is also needed for a library to inclusively identify and respond to current and emerging needs of its stakeholders and various user groups. In this context, the paper analyses quality assessment methods used in the University of Namibia (UNAM) Library from 2012 – 2019 with the main focus on the international standardised customer satisfaction LibQUAL+ survey, carried out in 2012 and 2014. The paper provides an analytical assessment of the use of LibQUAL+ at UNAM library, describing challenges, benefits and outcomes of the use of the method. The authors conclude that LibQUAL+ proved to be a very informative tool providing critical information for strategic planning. The use of a scientifically developed standardised tool had the additional advantage that the institution’s management trusted the results. The paper further discusses the practical implications of how the results of LibQUAL+ informed strategic planning and improvement of services, presents an analysis of the reasons for discontinuation the use of LibQUAL+ instrument, and concludes with a brief description of complementary methods that can be used to assess aspects that customer satisfaction-based methods do not cover, namely external quality reviews and benchmarking. The purpose of the paper is to provide an analytical view of challenges and benefits of quality assessment processes in one academic library for the benefit of strategic planning processes in other libraries
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    Inclusiveness of academic libraries: The case of assistive and adaptive technologies
    (2021) Kiana, Lucy; Ujakpa, Martin Mabeifam; Leonard, Anna
    This study assessed the state of inclusiveness of academic libraries in Namibia and Ghana by examining the adoption of assistive and adaptive technologies in their spaces and services to cater for users with disabilities. Applying a quantitative design approach, data were collected though face to face interviews from a sample of 12 library staff , 7 lecturers and 9 disabled students. The study found that the state of adoption of assistive and adaptive technologies is poor. Very minimum assistive and adaptive technologies are available in the libraries. Several reasons accounted for the minimum ATs in libraries but most prominent among them is lack of knowledge on ATs. As a result of this, library inclusion in terms of ATs ranged from very poor to fair. Lack of policy and financial constraints were cited as barriers for creating inclusive libraries. The study recommends the formulation and implementation of policies governing libraries to make them more inclusive; provision of adequate funds to academic libraries to enable them to incorporate assistive and adaptive technologies in their spaces and services. This study used a few university libraries from Namibia and Ghana and hence generalizing the result should be done with caution. Future studies should include more libraries including national and community libraries. This study has made a significant contribution in the understanding of the adoption of assistive technologies by academic libraries in providing spaces and services to users with disabilities. The findings and recommendations could also benefit similar academic libraries and further research in developing countries.
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    The views, adoption and use of e-books by undergraduate students at the University of Namibia
    (University of South Africa, 2017) Leonard, Anna
    The advancement of Information Communication and Technology, especially the vast development of the Internet, which makes information more widely available to more people, has brought changes to the publishing industry. This technological development includes the introduction of electronic information sources such as e-journals and e-books. The research aimed at investigating the adoption of views about and use of e-books at the University of Namibia. The research design was exploratory and the study adopted a mixed approach, in which both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Data collection was done through administering questionnaires, a focus group discussion and observation, combined with think-aloud methods. Both purposive sampling and random sampling techniques were used in selecting respondents. The results of this study reported a high awareness about e-books by students. The study also revealed frequent general use of e-books. The study further reported that respondents used both the non-library search engines and the library search tool as starting points to search for e-books, with the result that the use of the library provided e-books has not reached any significant level. The study also observed positive attitudes towards e-books by students, as they indicated a preference for e-books over printed books and reported using e-books mainly for course work and research purposes. In identifying factors that hinder the use of e-books, aspects such as slow Internet connections, lack of knowledge (including the awareness and skills required to utilise e-books), limited and/or lack of relevant e-books titles, preference for print, eye strain and difficulty reading on screen, as well as limited computers and lack of e-readers, were identified as major deterrents for the use of e-books. Additionally, the study found that the relative advantage, compatibility, trialability and observability have significant influence on the adoption of e-books.