A Study on the Utilization of Digital Information Sources in Asmara (Eritrea)

Digital Information Sources are becoming more and more popular since they provide multimedia information, full-text search, reference link and easy in accessing and utilizing them. In Eritrea, particularly in Asmara city, significant investments have been made by the government of Eritrea in digital resources and accompanying computer-based technology to ensure access to those digital resources. However, the resources appeared to be underutilized by most of the people. The major purpose of this study is to find out the public awareness on digital medium of information, to determine how people in Asmara (Eritrea) use the digital information sources, the purpose of using digital information sources, the availability of digital information in Asmara, the difficulties in accessing information from digital information sources and finding ways and means to improve the accessibility and utilization of digital information sources. The study also seeks the people's opinion about the role of public libraries in providing digital information services. Eritrean Telecommunication Services Corporation (Eritel) is one of several internet service providers in the country. EriTel was among the first organization to get a license to establish internet cafes, and the net services through leased lines and dial-up connections. However, connections are typically overcrowded and congestion is an acknowledged problem. EriTel controls the national gateway, which it created in partnership with US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Asmara Public Library (APL) established in 1958 is one of the major information service centre aims to enhance the reading culture in the country by providing useful books to the users or customers of the library. It also strives to provide up to date information about what is going on inside our globe to the community. The APL has physical library, children's library, Open Space Reading Facility, Seminars, Lectures and Group Discussion Facility, Net cafe and Digital Library. The special feature of the APL is "services outside the wall"