The exploration of the information needs of students using the UNISA Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre Library

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the information needs of students using the UNISA Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre Library by employing a qualitative method of inquiry. A total number of thirty two students were selected as respondents by means of purposive sampling. The one-on-one interview was used as the data collection instrument and the collected data was analysed by means of descriptive analysis. The findings indicate that students’ information needs are influenced by several factors, such as their academic activities, e.g. writing assignments, preparing for the examination, personal development and reading for leisure. The findings also indicate that students are not fully satisfied with the information resources and services that are offered at the UNISA Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre Library, because of the challenges prohibiting them form utilizing the resources and services. These challenges include inadequate library skills, inadequate information resources, noise in the library and the distance to travel to the library. It is recommended that the infrastructure of the library, as well as the library collection and human resources be improved. The study also suggest that library training skills should be facilitated and that the awareness of information resources and services should be intensified

Maikemišetšo a thuto ye ke go utulla dinyakwa tša tshedimošo tša baithuti re šomiša Lefelo la Ditirelo tša Bokgobapuku bja Selete sa Ekurhuleni sa ka go šomiša mokgwa wa go nyaka tshedimošo wa qualitative. Palomoka ya baithuti ba 32 e kgethilwe bjalo ka baarabi ba loketšego go dira seo le sešupo ka go se kgethe. Poledišano ya batho ba babedi e šomišitšwe bjalo ka sedirišwa sa go kgoboketša datha mme datha yeo e kgobokeditšwego e ahlaahlilwe ka kahlaahlo ya go hlalosa. Diphihlelelo di laetša go re dinyakwa tša baithuti tša tshedimošo di huetšwa ke dintlha tše mmalwa, go akaretšwa le ditiro tša bona tša thuto ya godimo (mohl. go ngwala asaenemente le go beakanyetša moleko), tlhabollo ya bowena le go balela lethabo. Diphihlelelo le tšona di laetša go re baithuti ga se ba kgotsofale go felela ka ga methopo ya tshedimošo le ditirelo tšeo di abjago mo Lefelo la Ditirelo tša Bokgobapuku bja Selete sa Ekurhuleni sa UNISA, ka gobane go na le mathata ao a mo šitišago go šomiša methopo le ditirelo. Mathata a a akaretša bokgoni bjo bo sa lekanago bja bokgobapuku,lešata ka gare ga bokgobapuku le bokgole bjo ba swanetšego go bo sepela go ya bokgobapuku. Go digetšwe gore lenaneokgoparara la bokgobapuku, gotee le kgoboketšo le methopo ya bašomi, e kaonafatšwe. Thuto ye e ra gore bokgoni bja tlhahlo ya bokgobapuku bo swanetše bo sepedišwe, le gore temošo ka ga methopo ya tshedimošo le ditirelo di swanetše go matlafatšwa.

Injongo yesi sifundo kukuphanda ngezidingo zolwazi zabafundi abasebenzisa ithala leencwadi lesithili sasEkurhuleni, elaziwa ngokuba yiUNISA Ekurhuleni Regional Service Centre Library. Oku kwenziwe ngokusebenzisa indlela yophando lomgangatho. Kwakhethwa gabalala abafundi abangama-32 ababeza kuphendula imibuzo, bengakhethwa ngeempawu ezithile. Kwenziwe udliwano ndlebe lomntu ngamnye kuqokelelwa iinkcukacha zolwazi nezithe zahlalutywa ngohlobo lokucacisa okuhlalutywayo Okufunyanisiweyo kubonise ukuba izidingo zolwazi zabafundi zichatshazelwa yimiba eliqela, equka nemisebenzi yezifundo (umz. ukubhala iiasayinmenti nokulungiselela iimviwo), ukuziqhubela phambili nokufundela ulonwabo. Kuphinde kwafunyaniswa ukuba abafundi abanelisekanga ngokupheleleyo yimithombo neenkonzo ezinikwa leli thala leencwadi, ngoba kusekho imingeni enqanda ukuba bangakwazi ukuzisebenzisa ezi nkonzo nemithombo yolwazi. Le mingeni iquka izakhono eziqhwalelayo zamathala eencwadi, imithombo yolwazi esilelayo, ingxolo kwithala leencwadi kwanemigama ehanjwa ngabafundi ukuya kwithala leencwadi Kucetyiswa ukuba kuphuculwe izibonelelo zethala eli, ingqokelela yemithombo yolwazi kwanoncedo oluvela kubantu abasebenzayo. Esi sifundo sikwacebisa ukuba kuququzelelwe uqeqesho kwizakhono zamathala eencwadi, kuqiniswe ukuthathela ingqalelo imithombo yolwazi neyeenkonzo.