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The use of web technologies by librarians to support researchers and students at an open distance e-learning university

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dc.contributor.advisor Nwagwu, W. E.
dc.contributor.author Tshikotshi, Mphelekedzeni Aaron
dc.date.accessioned 2021-11-28T03:08:40Z
dc.date.available 2021-11-28T03:08:40Z
dc.date.issued 2019-11
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10500/28333
dc.description.abstract The rapid development of web technologies poses many opportunities and challenges for librarians, particularly in an open and distance e- learning (ODeL) institution. Despite the challenges, librarians continue to use web technologies in order to improve the services that they offer to library clients. This research explored the usage of web technologies in the ODeL Unisa Library, where librarian-client interaction occurs remotely, with most services being offered online. Research in web technology applications abounds in the fields of general information technology and library information systems , but there are research gaps in terms of studies focusing on online and distance institutions, where librarians and clients do not have the privilege of face- to- face contact. The study integrates the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory with the constructs in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), in order to test the hypotheses about the implementation and usage dynamics of web technologies by Unisa librarians. The study is a quantitative sample survey, with respondents drawn from the Unisa Library staff population of 246, who utilise web technologies in their daily duties when supporting researchers. An email was first sent to the respondents to solicit their participation in the study, and 135 participants consented. A questionnaire was then sent by e-mail to the participants through the SurveyMonkey platform, and 68 respondents completed the questionnaire, which is a return rate of 50.3%. Most of the respondents are innovators, who occupy the highest level of technology adopters in Rogers’ hierarchy. The workforce has no demographic barriers in respect of the innovation category and can be considered potentially capable of being turned into a more efficient workforce in respect of web technology-based information service provision. The librarians who participated in the study have used a wide range of web tools in the last five years, although Facebook (FB), a social media tool, and reference/citation tools are the most used. Technical support and network issues top the challenges that are encountered by librarians. Relative advantage, compatibility, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and communication have an influence on the adoption of web technologies by librarians. Network issues, ICT support problems and lack of coordinated teams focused on web technology are impediments towards the smooth implementation of web technology tools. en
dc.format.extent 1 online resource (xi, 132 leaves) en
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject Web technology tools en
dc.subject Technology Acceptance Model en
dc.subject Diffusion of Innovation en
dc.subject Open and Distance Learning en
dc.subject Open and Distance e-Learning en
dc.subject Social media en
dc.subject Web 2.0 en
dc.subject Web 3.0 en
dc.subject Information and Communication Technology en
dc.subject Library 2.0 en
dc.subject Library 3.0 en
dc.subject.ddc 025.042 en
dc.subject.lcsh Web applications in libraries en
dc.subject.lcsh Web 2.0 en
dc.subject.lcsh Diffusion of innovations en
dc.subject.lcsh Technological innovations en
dc.subject.lcsh Distance education en
dc.subject.lcsh Social media in education en
dc.subject.lcsh Online information services en
dc.subject.lcsh Online social networks en
dc.subject.lcsh Web applications in libraries en
dc.title The use of web technologies by librarians to support researchers and students at an open distance e-learning university en
dc.type Dissertation en
dc.description.department Information Science en
dc.description.degree M. A. (Information Science) en


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