Journal of Information and Knowledge (Formerly SRELS Journal of Information Management)

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Adoption of Web 2.0 in African National Libraries:An Evaluative Study


Affiliations
1 T John College of Pharmacy, 88/1, Kammanahalli, Gottigere, Bannaragatta Road Bengaluru – 560083, Karnataka, India
2 Department of Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Manasa Gangothiri - 570006, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
     

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Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overall picture of the application of Web 2.0 technologies in national libraries in African countries. The focus of the research was to examine the types of Web 2.0 technologies that were used in national library websites and their features. Design/methodology/Approach: Content analysis was used in terms of quantitative approach. A checklist as the main research instrument was developed based on other checklists and questionnaires. Data were collected by accessing National library Web sites of African countries. Findings: In the African continent out of 61 countries 51 countries have national libraries. 31 of these have web presence and 10 national libraries are using Web 2.0 technologies in their websites. Research limitations: A combination of content analysis with survey and / or interview may enable future researchers to analyze other aspects (e.g. the application of internal wikis or the use of instant messaging for reference services) of Web 2.0 that a single method of content analysis could not gain. This study explores the application of Web 2.0 and is useful for all types of national libraries in evaluating/deploying Web 2.0.

Keywords

Africa, National Libraries, Web 2.0, World Wide Web.
User
About The Authors

G. Kannikaparameshwari
T John College of Pharmacy, 88/1, Kammanahalli, Gottigere, Bannaragatta Road Bengaluru – 560083, Karnataka
India

M. Chandrashekar
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Manasa Gangothiri - 570006, Mysuru, Karnataka
India


Notifications

  • Arif, M., & Mahmood, K. (2012). The changing role of librarians in the digital world: Adoption of Web 2.0 technologies by Pakistani librarians. The Electronic Library, 30(4), 469479. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211252184

  • Baro, E. E., Idiodi, E. O., & Godfrey, V. Z. (2013). Awareness and use of Web 2.0 tools by librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. OCLC Systems & Services, 29(3), 170-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/OCLC-12-2012-0042

  • Bradley, P. (2007). How to use Web 2.0 in your library. Facet Publishing, London

  • Farkas, M.G. (2007). Social software in libraries: building, collaboration, communication, and community online. Information Today Inc., Medford, N.J.

  • Godwin, P. & Parker, Jo (2008). Information literacy meets library 2.0. Facet, London.

  • Kelly, B., Bevan, P., Akerman, R., Alcock, J., & Fraser, J. (2009). Library 2.0: balancing the risks and benefits to maximize the dividends. Program: Electronic Library & Information Systems, 43(3), 311-327. https://doi.org/10.1108/00330330910978608

  • Linh, N. (2008). A survey of the application of Web 2.0 in Australasian university libraries. Library Hi Tech, 26(4), 630-653. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830810920950

  • Miller, P. (2005). Web 2.0: Building the new library. Ariadne, 45(30), 10.

  • Naik, R.R. (2008). Weblogs: powerful information management tools for LIS professionals. Proceedings of National conference on Library 2.0: The confluence of Web 2.0 and the library paradigm (pp. 115-130).

  • O’Reilly, T. (2005). What is web 2.0. O’Reilly Media, Inc. Retrived from:www.oreillynet.com

  • Sauers, Michael P. (2006). Blogging and RSS: A librarian’s guide. Information Today, Inc., Medford, N.J.

  • Stephens, M. & Collins, M. (2007). Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and the Hyperlinked Library. Serials Review, 33(4), 253-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2007.10765134


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  • Adoption of Web 2.0 in African National Libraries:An Evaluative Study

Abstract Views: 406  |  PDF Views: 11

Authors

G. Kannikaparameshwari
T John College of Pharmacy, 88/1, Kammanahalli, Gottigere, Bannaragatta Road Bengaluru – 560083, Karnataka, India
M. Chandrashekar
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Manasa Gangothiri - 570006, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

Abstract


Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overall picture of the application of Web 2.0 technologies in national libraries in African countries. The focus of the research was to examine the types of Web 2.0 technologies that were used in national library websites and their features. Design/methodology/Approach: Content analysis was used in terms of quantitative approach. A checklist as the main research instrument was developed based on other checklists and questionnaires. Data were collected by accessing National library Web sites of African countries. Findings: In the African continent out of 61 countries 51 countries have national libraries. 31 of these have web presence and 10 national libraries are using Web 2.0 technologies in their websites. Research limitations: A combination of content analysis with survey and / or interview may enable future researchers to analyze other aspects (e.g. the application of internal wikis or the use of instant messaging for reference services) of Web 2.0 that a single method of content analysis could not gain. This study explores the application of Web 2.0 and is useful for all types of national libraries in evaluating/deploying Web 2.0.

Keywords


Africa, National Libraries, Web 2.0, World Wide Web.

References