University of Dar es Salaam Library Journal

The Editorial Note

2025-02-13T10:13:28+00:00

On behalf of the editorial committee and the editorial board, I have the privilege to present to you our current issues of December 2024. The diversity of the articles in our current issues reflects different LIS dimensions.

Knowledge Sharing as a Determinant of Turnover Intention of Librarians in South-West Nigerian Universities

2025-02-26T12:22:53+00:00

This study probes the place of knowledge sharing in influencing the turnover intention of librarians in South-West Nigerian universities. High turnover rates among librarians pose challenges for organisations, leading to financial losses and a decline in service quality. The study assessed the level of knowledge sharing among librarians, determined their turnover intentions, and examined the influence of knowledge sharing on turnover intentions. The study employed survey methodology, collecting data from 145 librarians in 11 selected university libraries. Data for the study was gathered using a questionnaire comprising two (2) scales for measuring the study’s variables. Section A was designed to capture the demographic characteristics of the respondents; Section B to elucidate data on knowledge sharing behaviour of the respondents and comprised 14 items measured using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Section C obtained data on the turnover intention of the respondents and comprised 17 items measured using a Likert-type scale. The study found librarians to have a positive attitude towards knowledge sharing, expressing willingness to share their knowledge, work experiences, and expertise. They perceive it as beneficial and are encouraged by their superiors. However, they generally have low intentions to resign or quit their positions. The study found that knowledge-sharing behaviour significantly influences turnover intention, suggesting that librarians who engage more in knowledge-sharing are less likely to leave their jobs. The study, thus, suggests that university library management should implement policies that encourage knowledge-sharing behaviour to discourage high librarian turnover intentions.

Application of Information and Communication Technology in Traditional Medicine and Healing Knowledge Management

2025-02-26T12:42:06+00:00

This study examined the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in managing traditional medicine across four districts of Njombe, Masasi, Singida, and Magu, and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Specifically, the study explored how Tanzanian stakeholders use ICT to manage traditional medicine and healing knowledge, the effects of ICT on the ecosystem of traditional medicine and healing knowledge, their readiness to adopt ICT applications, and the obstacles they face when integrating ICT. Using a mixed-methods approach informed by the Technology Acceptance Model and the Information System Success Model, the study deployed a questionnaire survey, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observations to collect data from 71 respondents including traditional healers, prospective users, researchers, and district coordinators. The data were subjected to thematic and descriptive statistical analyses facilitated by the Statistical Package for Service Solutions. The study found severely limited use of modern technologies, such as computers, in managing traditional medicine and healing knowledge. Although stakeholders owned smartphones, their use was constrained by financial limitations, inadequate ICT skills, and insufficient technological infrastructure. Despite these challenges, participants acknowledged the importance of using ICT in managing traditional medicine and healing knowledge and expressed readiness to use it. However, ICT was not fully utilised in managing such knowledge in Tanzania. Enhancing ICT infrastructure, implementing targeted training programmes for stakeholders, and establishing clear policies and guidelines for ICT use in managing traditional knowledge are recommended.

Mapping Climate Change Research Collaboration in Tanzania from 1964 to 2021

2025-02-26T12:51:07+00:00

This study explored research collaboration in climate change initiatives in Tanzania. Specifically, it sought to uncover the collaborative networks of researchers based on Tanzania’s climate change research outputs from 1964 to 2021. A bibliometric approach was used to analyse co-authorship as an indicator of research collaboration during the investigated period. Data were researched and retrieved from the Dimensions.ai database based on specified keywords. VOSviewer software was employed to analyse the data and obtain co-authorship networks, while MS Excel was used to organise and analyse the frequency data percentages. The results have revealed that researchers from Tanzania have a strong collaborative network with other countries in climate change research. Additionally, researchers from the University of Dar es Salaam seem to have stronger collaborative ties with those from the Sokoine University of Agriculture and the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology. International researchers with significant co-authorship alongside Tanzanian researchers come from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Kenya, and South Africa respectively. Furthermore, the results indicate that developed countries such as the US, UK, Germany, and South Africa, despite co-authoring only a few publications, seem to exhibit a high total link strength. Therefore, research collaboration in its various manifestations and levels needs encouragement, as it enhances both the quality and quantity of research output productivity. There is a need to strengthen research collaboration on climate change between researchers from Tanzania and those from African nations to establish local climate change mitigation measures that suit the African environment. Further studies should focus on the motivations for research collaboration and the funding patterns of collaborations within the country.

Contribution of Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries in Supporting Teaching and Research in Universities

2025-02-26T12:56:51+00:00

This study aimed to determine what the Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries (COTUL) has done to improve teaching and research by Tanzanian universities. COTUL was founded in 2002 to link the then 76 member libraries electronically, thereby improving resource sharing and the collective nature of the institutions. A mixed-methods approach was employed to collect quantitative data through 154 distributed questionnaires and qualitative insights through in-depth interviews. A remarkable response rate of 77.9 percent has thus been ensured, suggesting robust engagement with the study. While the findings establish how COTUL has greatly enhanced scholarly access, it has had suboptimal utilization rates. It is reported that only 41 percent of the respondents utilise the sources provided to them every week. Barriers in training and marketing seem to be critical factors impeding fuller adoption. These notwithstanding, the benefits of COTUL's efforts to train library professionals and negotiate access to resources were well acknowledged to add more value to improving Tanzania's academic landscape. The end was with the recommendation that, if developed, their initiatives would better help in optimising resource utilisation towards the quality of teaching and research in Tanzania universities. This research recommended the need to have collaborative structures in library management, which call for proper sustained funding and strategic outreach for maximum impact by the consortium.

Towards a Prospective Communication Model for University-Industry Collaborations in Uganda

2025-02-26T13:05:43+00:00

University-industry collaborations (UICs), which are frequently aided by the government, are thought to be essential to enhancing local and national innovation systems. Previous studies have identified barriers to UICs, but there is a dearth of empirical knowledge about the types of UICs and their challenges in the context of developing prospective models to enhance UICs, thereby restricting our ability to execute UICs. This study seeks to determine a prospective communication model for UICs by examining the various forms of UICs and the communication models used by universities and industries for collaboration. The study also establishes the challenges in UICs and measures to address them. The study adopted a qualitative research approach focusing on the service industry with three (03) service firms that have collaborated with the University of Kisubi, and one academic institution which is the University of Kisubi. The study findings reveal that the various forms of UIC in Uganda include student projects in the form of internships, research projects, and funding of research projects. The study findings also reveal that the barriers to UICs which include lack of trust, fear of knowledge link, and incompatibility occur at different stages. The study concludes that a communication model for UIC is pertinent to solving the barriers to UICs and enables the execution of UICs. The current study also provides a guiding framework for both university and industry practitioners by developing a consolidated communication model for UICs. Theoretically, by integrating the Theory of Communicative Action into UICs, our study provides a robust theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics of communication in these partnerships and proposes models to enhance collaborations. Universities and industries ought to generate relevant collaboration partners and establish personal links using the communication model.

Library Policy and Service Delivery in South-South Nigeria Federal Universities

2025-02-26T13:12:53+00:00

This study investigated the relationship between library policy and service delivery in South-South Nigeria federal universities. Two research questions guided this study, with hypotheses tested at a 0.05 significance level. The study employed a correlational research design. The population consisted of 115 professional librarians. Since the sample size was equal to the population, the study adopted a census approach and a structured questionnaire with a 4-point Likert scale for data collection. Data analysis utilised the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicate a significant relationship between reference service policy, serials management policy, and service delivery in federal universities of South-South Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made: Firstly, given the significant relationship between reference service policy and service delivery, libraries should prioritise the effective implementation of reference service policies to enhance service delivery. Secondly, considering the significant relationship between serials management policy and service delivery, library management should prioritise acquiring new journals in line with the serials management policy to meet users’ information demands, thereby enhancing library service delivery.

Understanding the Contextual Factors Influencing Access to Information for Improved Agricultural Decisions among Agropastoralists in Kilosa and Monduli Districts, Tanzania

2025-02-26T13:17:52+00:00

This study examined contextual factors influencing access to agricultural information, for improved agricultural decision-making among agropastoralists in Kilosa and Monduli Districts, Tanzania. Specifically, the paper determined the influence of demographic factors on access to agricultural information, ascertained the contribution of user satisfaction with accessed agricultural information, and found the link between ownership of communication channels and access to information for improved agricultural decision-making. Employing multistage and purposive sampling techniques, 395 participants were selected for the study. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire while qualitative data were collected using focus group discussions, interviews, and observation methods. Descriptive analysis using the Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS) was applied to the quantitative data. Pearson’s Chi-square test was computed to determine the statistical significance of the selected variables at p < 0.05. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. The study found that demographic characteristics, user satisfaction, information adequacy, household responsibility, and availability of resources influence access to agricultural information for informed decision-making among agropastoralists. It concluded that access to information for agricultural decision-making leads to improved livelihoods. To fulfil agropastoralists’ information needs, they should be aware of these factors and use such awareness to improve access to agricultural information. The study recommends engaging stakeholders through training, social networks, and information portals.

Leveraging Social Media Information for Small Tourism Enterprises

2025-02-26T13:28:19+00:00

The use of social media allows people and businesses to share information in various forms such as through pictures, videos, and messages online, and has been expanding to a larger audience in the past 10 years. This study attempts to bridge a gap by examining the relationship between social media use and Small Tourism Enterprises’ marketing performance in Tanzania’s tourist city, Arusha. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used in data collection where 133 Small Tourism Enterprises were part of our unit of analysis participating in this study. Using a cross-sectional survey design, quantitative data were collected and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling with the aid of Smart-PLS3 software. The study revealed that the five stages of the Digital Marketing Framework (DMF) influence the Marketing Performances of Small Tourism Enterprises based on attracting, engaging, retaining, and learning about customers. The adoption and exploitation of DMF by Small Tourism Enterprises have managed to increase customer acquisition level, have customer retention, they have increased their sales and profitability also the product demand has been improved extensively. This research contributes immensely to theory, management, and methodology because the adoption and engaging DMF based on the use of SM creates performance in marketing offerings from Small Tourism Enterprises in developing countries like Tanzania.

Undergraduate Students’ Utilisation of Digital Information Resources at the University of Lagos, Nigeria

2025-02-26T13:47:55+00:00

This paper investigates the relationship between digital literacy and digital information resource utilisation among undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of digital literacy skills of undergraduate students at the University of Lagos; examine the extent of utilisation of digital information resources among undergraduates at the University of Lagos; and, finally, examine the relationship between digital literacy skills and utilisation of digital information resources among the undergraduates in the University of Lagos. The study used two research questions to achieve objectives one and two and tested a hypothesis to examine the relationship between digital literacy skills and the utilisation of digital information resources. The survey research design was adopted to select two hundred ten (210) 400-level undergraduate students across the 12 faculties of the University of Lagos using the Multi-stage Sampling Technique. The questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Data collected for the research questions were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, and means whereas linear regression and multiple regression were used to test the hypotheses of the study. The study found that the level of digital literacy skills of the respondents is very high. The extent to which they use digital information resources available to them is also very low. The results also revealed that there is a positive linear relationship between digital literacy skills and the use of digital information resources by undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. The study found a positive linear relationship between digital literacy skills and the use of digital resources by undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. Impliedly, even though undergraduate students at the University of Lagos possess high digital literacy skills, their utilisation of digital information resources remains low, highlighting the need for targeted digital literacy training to enhance effective resource usage.