African Journals Online
African Journal of Library, Archives 
and Information Science

Department of Information Studies
School of Human and Social Studies
University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg)
P/Bag X01
Scottsville 3209
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
E mail:[email protected] 

Preserving and providing access to records and archives are some of the major reasons for the existence of archives. The need to preserve records and archives arises from their format, the environment in which they are stored, and frequent handling and use. While archivists are aware of the preservation challenges they face in the management of records, their major dilemma lies in choosing an appropriate preservation method. A variety of products available in the market claim to provide preservation solutions as well as guaranteed continued access to archives. However, microfilming and digitisation are the two widely used reformatting products. The choice of the reformatting strategies has a profound impact on how archival institutions manage and deliver information. The issues at stake are: Can digitisation be used as a tool for the preservation of archives in Sub-Saharan Africa? Will microfilm become obsolete?

It is evident that until feasible solutions to preserving long-term access to digital documents are developed, microfilming will remain the most appropriate preservation strategy for archivists, especially, in the developing countries. These expensive digitisation projects are often impeded by scarce resources and scant research in digital preservation. Presently, digital conversion seems to be attractive only in terms of enhancing access to documents.

The Benin Empire, is one of the most popular empires in African civilisation. It was also of major significance to Western civilisation because of its unique artistic skills, which was an indication of an already developed society. Using tape/video recorders, interviews and desk research, aspects of the culture of the Binis were captured and developed into a web site. The study also developed a Bini version of the site as part of the efforts towards promoting African culture. A combination of hierarchical and linear web site design methods were used and usability tests were carried out, using the two major Internet browsers, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

The paper analyses the corroborative applications offered by different organisations in Uganda and describes prospects for the use of digital libraries in Uganda. A qualitative approach design with a purposive sampling strategy was adopted. The study was limited to practical experiences on the services and applications. The results indicated that a majority of organisations apply information and communications technologies (ICT) in bridging access across networks and sharing of information between different organisations. It was observed that the current information and communications technology systems in Uganda do not reach majority of users. It was concluded that education and knowledge on the use and adaptation of digital libraries and electronic technologies will contribute effectively to collaborative applications in Uganda. It recommends services that need to be integrated into the organisations’ strategic objectives.

There is the erroneous notion among records managers in the public sector and the business setting that preservation of records is an activity reserved for the conservator late in the life of the document. In order to find out the care and handling of records in Government ministries and departments, 69 registries were surveyed. A questionnaire was designed to collect information from the surveyed ministries. Fort- four or (64%) responses were received. The analysis reveals that the degradation of records begin in registries in which most records spend their active life. Also, a majority of records which end up in the archives are at various stages of deterioration before reaching their destinations. The article concludes that preservation is an activity that runs through the total life of records must form an integral part records management. 

The paper discusses the establishment of the African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science (AJLAIS) in 1991 as a medium for African researchers in librarianship, archives, information science and other related information fields to disseminate their research findings. At the time the journal was launched, there was no continental journal for disseminating research findings, Rather, research findings by African researchers were scattered in moribund national journals or published outside the continent. The journal, having been published twice a year since 1991, has a sufficient resource base that could be evaluated. The objective of this paper was to appraise the journal, 1996-2000, as the main resource base for library and information science (LIS) research in Africa. The citations in AJLAIS and three other journals regularly used by LIS researchers in Africa (International Information Library Review, Information Development and Libri) were analysed. The citations were analysed with a view to identifying the frequency at which AJLAIS was consulted and used by researchers in Africa. The assumption of the study is that citation implies consultation and usage. Citations to the four journals during the period 1996- 2000 were analysed and compared. The findings reveal that AJLAIS has performed creditably as a resource base for LIS research in Africa

Department of Library and Information Studies
University of Botswana
P/Bag 0022
Gaborone, Botswana
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] 

This paper discusses the book publishing patterns in Uganda. The paper looks at the development of Uganda’s book industry and assesses the factors that have impeded its growth. Current opportunities at the disposal of the industry are highlighted and the way forward outlined. Some of the factors identified as inhibiting publishing in Uganda are foreign policies, language barriers, economic status, high illiteracy rate, piracy, lack of government support, lack of national policy on book publishing, limited capital, lack of a virile national publishing association,etc. The paper also enumerates opportunities available for book publishing in Uganda,. This includes the establishment of the East African Book Development Council (EABDC), affiliation of the Uganda Publishers Association with African Publishers Network (APNET), African Book Collective (ABC and , increased enrollment of school children under the universal primary education (UPE) programme.

The paper examines the environmental information needs of community members in the oil-producing Niger Delta areas of Nigeria. For the case study, four communities which are hosts to oil flow stations were selected. These communities fall under two local government areas of Delta State. There were 260 respondents, made up of farmers, fishermen, salaried workers, students and business people. The main survey instrument was the questionnaire. Interviews and observation were also employed.

The findings reveal that the most environmental information needs were in the areas of gas flaring (100%), health (98.1%) and land (96.9%). The main information sources used by respondents in meeting their information needs were town criers /community leaders (82.7%), radio (77.7%) and personal contact/visits (71.9%.). Libraries were rarely used as a source of information as only 1.2% of the respondents indicated the use of libraries as a source of information for meeting their needs. The paper also discussed the potential role of libraries

Stephen Kayode Subair

and
Florence Kgankenna

This study was conducted to determine the level of information technology use among all the 39 lecturers of Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) and 24 researchers of the Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) in Botswana. The questionnaire administered was developed around the domains which literature has asserted could contribute to the use of information technology in agricultural research. The questionnaire was validated and the reliability estimates calculated. The data collected were analysed using frequencies, means, percentages and rankings. The study revealed that the researchers placed a high value on information technology in agricultural research, but they possessed insufficient knowledge and skills of software and general IT use.

This paper discusses the problems faced by Kenneth Dike Library in automating its cataloguing process since 1992. It further attempts to identify some of the constraints inhibiting the success of the process: inadequate funding, dearth of systems analysts, absence of dedicated commitment to automation on the part of the library management. There are some of the issues discussed. It concludes by proffering some solutions that could ameliorate the problems posed.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the currency of the science and technology titles acquired by the at the University of Nigeria Library, Nsukka. Systematic random sampling was used to select and evaluate titles from the shelf list. The evaluation study showed that majority of books in the sciences were obsolete while technology had more recent books. The study revealed that over 30% of the titles were worn-out and evenly distributed among the subjects. In view of the finding it is recommended that assessment in other subject areas should also be carried out to identify obsolete titles, worn out books, missing titles and mutilated books.