Theses and Dissertations (Unisa Library)
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Item Marketing and use of electronic library resource to students in technical universities in Ghana(2023-12) Baayel, Patrick; Minishi-Majanja, Mabel KhayisiaThe low utilisation of e-resources from accessible databases among students in Ghanaian technical universities (TUs) is an issue of concern for library management. Effective marketing strategies are seen as a promising solution to address the challenges posed by this limited usage of e-resources. This study aimed to explore and investigate marketing techniques that can promote the utilisation of e-resources offered by TU libraries to deserving students, thereby maximising the attainment of the intended goals. The study was underpinned by the pragmatic paradigm, where a concurrent triangulation mixed-methods design was used for the study. Data was gathered through surveys and interviews from a total sample of 727, involving 706 survey respondents and 21 interview participants. The survey data was analysed using Statistical Product and Services Solution (SPSS), version 26, and smartPLS 4 structural equation modelling of latent variables. The interview findings were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed causes of the low students’ usage of e-resources in libraries. Key among them is a lack of awareness, a lack of market, poor searching techniques, and inadequate computer devices for users. The most common methods of marketing the resources were informal and conventional marketing practices among the libraries, which are primarily print-based channels and freshman orientations. Factors that influenced the students' behavioural intentions to use the resources are marketing, awareness, the user environment, perceived relevance and ease of use, and user skills. The study suggests a coherent and structured strategy for marketing e-resources. It was established that the successful implementation of marketing campaigns will depend on the collection development policy adopted, the strategic plan that spells out the human and logistical resources, and the budgetary allocations. The proposed strategies would enhance not just the marketing of electronic resources inside Ghanaian TU libraries but also those of other Ghanaian university libraries. Libraries in other African nations with operational environments comparable to those of Ghana's TUs might also potentially adopt and implement the study's findings.Item An evaluation of a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) project on friendly health services utilisation by adolescents in Lesotho(2022-11) Thaanyane-Kabi, Tsepang Celestinah; Netangaheni, Robert Thinavhuyo; Nhlanhla, PhillipBackground: Lesotho is one of the countries that have adopted and implemented strategies to address the challenges that impede negatively on utilisation of adolescent- friendly sexual and reproductive health services. In this regard, the Lesotho SRH and HIV linkage project of 2011 serves as the foremost point of reference for both the research problem and aim of the study. Aim: This study seeks to evaluate the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV linkage project on friendly health service provision and utilisation by adolescents in Lesotho. The evaluation will be based on the way services are offered to the targeted population at the selected healthcare site. Factors influencing access to and utilisation of health services were also explored. Methods: The qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. Purposive sampling was employed for the selection of a total sample size of 21 adolescents and 5 (five) primary healthcare professionals who were sampled according to a pre-determined selection criteria. Two self-designed in-depth semi-structured interview guides were developed for data collection from the adolescents and nurses at the selected research sites. Clinical records were checked to assess utilisation of services by adolescents. The information gathered was triangulated with data collected from face-to-face interviews and analysed thematically. The data were transcribed considering content analysis for thematic aspects and patterns of the data obtained. Results: The results indicated that adolescent females utilise most of the sexual reproductive services than the males. Most of these adolescent females were pregnant and lactating, and visited healthcare centres for contraceptives as well. The results further indicated a significant decline in the use of sexual and reproductive health services for reasons such as: lack of human resources, poor infrastructure, fixed working hours; as well as location and attitudes of the healthcare workers, which influenced the accessibility and acceptability of services being provided. Most critically, the findings revealed that the selected healthcare site does not provide adolescents with friendly services. Conclusion and recommendations: The study recommends that a separate adolescent sexual reproductive healthcare facility be built at the same research site to provide the required level of service in a very conducive environment away from adults. Team building, school visits, and sporting activities are also recommended as part of up-scaling adolescent friendly services to the community in a tangible manner. The results of this study should not be generalized. Rather, a study of the same nature would be ideal to explore the phenomenon of adolescent-friendly sexual reproductive healthcare services in other settings.Item Authority control in an academic library consortium using a union catalogue maintained by a central office for authority control(2009-08-25T11:04:34Z) Marais, Hester, 1961-; Dick, Archie L.; Fourie, InaAuthority control is the backbone of the library catalogue and therefore a critical library activity. Experienced staff create authority records to assist users in their quest for information. The focus of this study is on authority control as a means of co-operation in academic library consortia using a union catalogue maintained by a Central Office for Authority Control. Literature studies were conducted on three sub-problems: the development of academic library consortia in South Africa, and various forms, characteristics and functions of academic library consortia in general; the characteristics, principals and objectives of authority control; and the functions of union catalogues with special reference to the role of Z39.50 within virtual union catalogues. The conclusion was that existing and new authority records should be made available as widely as possible within consortia through a union catalogue. It is however a partial solution, because not all the libraries within the consortium have the expertise to create new authority records. Two empirical studies were conducted. A cost analysis was done to determine the cost of creating and changing authority records within academic library consortia in South Africa, in order to choose a system within which authority control can be performed effectively and speedily. Secondly, a questionnaire was sent to libraries in the United States to gather information on their experiences with regard to authority control, library co-operation in general, and virtual union catalogues. The United States was the natural choice because it could be regarded as the birthplace of modern library consortia. Inferences drawn from the information received was used to develop the structure and functions for a Central Office for Authority Control in academic library consortia in South Africa. It was found that authority control within an academic library consortium using a union catalogue could be conducted most cost-effectively and timeously through such a Central Office for Authority Control. The purpose of the Central Office would be to co-ordinate authority control within the consortium. Pooling available resources within the consortium would keep the cost of authority control as low as possible. Libraries with the required infrastructure and expertise would have the opportunity to create authority records on behalf of other libraries and be compensated for their services. Through such a Central Office more authority records created according to mutually accepted standards would be available for sharing within the consortium.Item An investigation into the effectiveness of the staff development policies and programmes of the Unisa library(2009-08) Ramalibana, Kataila M.; Burger, M.; De Beer, C. S.This study investigated the effectiveness of staff training and development programmes and policies at the Unisa Library. The aim of the study was to establish how staff training and development needs were met and also how staff felt about the centralisation of the Human Resources Department. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed among the Unisa Library staff including the Unisa Branch Libraries. Interviews with four divisional managers were also conducted. Staff development is an ongoing process that, by means of a systematic approach, serves to orient, train, and develop each member of the library staff to work together and to serve their customers with the skills necessary to deliver a quality service. As a result, training can be viewed as an essential vehicle to efficient and effective performance by staff and also as a process that develops the skills, awareness or expertise of staff. This is important for both professional and non-professional employees. Chapter one of this dissertation provided the orientation of this study. Chapter two looked at how the study was conducted, including the research design and methods. Chapter three provided information on the legal aspects of training and development in the workplace and what employees need to be aware of and to know. Chapter four dealt with staff training and development and a literature survey. Chapter five gave an analysis and interpretation of the research findings. Chapter six described the situation at Unisa with respect to staff training and development, while in chapter seven recommendations were made based on the findings of this study. It was found that the personal development of staff was hindered as only job - related training is supported by the Library's STD workgroup. It is recommended that a training needs analysis be compiled in the Library based on the individual staff training requirements expressed during annual performance appraisals. Fifty percent of the staff who were surveyed thought it was good to centralise the Human Resources Department.Item The role of inventory control in service quality in a South African academic library(2009-08) Retief, Esther; Terblanche, F.Service quality has always been a tacit assumption within the delivery of academic library services, but since the 1990s demands for accountability from different stakeholders, including the clients, made service quality a highly debated and researched focus in academic libraries all over the world. The scope of the study covers a wide-ranging analysis of discourses underpinning service quality and its accompanying performance indicators in academic libraries. Using the academic library of the University of South Africa as an illustrative case study, this study examines the possible impact of inventory control on the service quality of the academic library in three areas, namely access to information resources, retrieval of information resources and positive implications for sound financial management. The study's findings all point to a positive enhancement of service quality in regard to the three areas mentioned.