NRU :: Browsing by Author "Musoke, Maria G. N."

Browsing by Author "Musoke, Maria G. N."

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11

Building the Capacity of Librarians through Collaboration: The Experience of the University of Bergen and Makerere University Libraries with their New Partners in the North and South
(IGI Global, 2014) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Landoy, Ane
This chapter details the collaboration scenario of the University libraries of Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Bergen in Norway for over a decade. This chapter highlights the multiplier effect of the collaboration leading to new partners at the University of Juba in South Sudan, the East African School of Library and Information Science (EASLIS) at Makerere and the Norwegian School of Librarianship. The new partners implemented the Juba University Library Automation Project (JULAP) funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. JULAP aimed to rebuild the Juba University Library closed due to 1985 war. The project includes library automation, training and sponsoring young Sudanese for a Bachelor’s degree in Librarianship at EASLIS. Staff training is conducted by EASLIS, while the practical component was handled by previously trained Makerere University Library staff. Activities, challenges faced and addressed, achievements and future plans of the project are outlined.
The changing IT trends: are academic libraries coping?
(Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, 2014) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Sentamu, Timothy; Mwesigwa, Andrew
The modern academic library environment is changing not only to cope with technological advancements, but also to organise, preserve and make knowledge accessible in real time. The current technological developments, the increased library user expectations and users‟ participation in the information chain e.g through social media have been the major catalysts for automation. By 2013, Makerere University (Mak) Main Library alone had over 474 Personal Computers (PCs) in its bid to integrate Information Technologies (ITs) in library functions. However, in recent times, there has been evidence of own laptops‟ usage by Mak Library users. In response to this trend, Mak Main library redesigned space in 2012 to provide data points to accommodate laptop users as the wireless connection infrastructure could no longer handle the exponentially increased user population at Mak library. The paper reports findings of a quantitative study that investigated the usage of the Main library IT facilities, users‟ preferences and whether the various IT facilities were meeting the users‟ needs and expectations. The findings revealed that 22% (1221) of the 5,472 library users, at the time of collecting data, were found using library IT facilities, while the rest of the library users 78% (4,251) were engaged in private study, discussions in the Group study facilities or were using other library facilities and services. The 22% found using library IT facilities reported to have used the following: 46% Learning Commons for undergraduates, 4% Research Commons for postgraduates and researchers, 16% OPAC terminals, 2% lab for users with disabilities, 10% laptop users‟ lab and 22% own laptops connected to the LAN in the rest of the Main library building. Of the 22% who used library IT facilities, only 38% owned laptops, hence confirming the continued need for library PCs. The study highlighted reasons for the preferred IT facilities and its implications for policy on academic library service delivery. The findings confirmed that Mak Main lib had tried to cope with the changing IT developments and user behavior to remain relevant to the academic and research community served.
Datos abiertos en un mundo de grandes datos. Un acuerdo internacional ICSU-IAP-ISSC-TWAS
(Ibero-American magazine of science, technology and society, 2017) Boulton, Geoffrey; Hodson, Simon; Babini, Dominique; Li, Jianhui; Marwala, Tshilidzi; Musoke, Maria G. N.; Uhlir, Paul F.; Wyatt, Sally
La revolución digital de décadas recientes es un evento histórico mundial tan profundo y más penetrante que la introducción de la imprenta. Ha creado una explosión sin precedentes en la capacidad de adquirir, almacenar, manipular y transmitir instantáneamente grandes y complejos volúmenes de datos, con profundas implicaciones para la ciencia.1 La velocidad del cambio es formidable. En 2003 los científicos declararon que el mapeo del genoma humano estaba completo. Llevó más de diez años y costó un billón de dólares; hoy se tarda apenas unos días y cuesta una pequeña fracción de dicho monto (mil dólares). Los grandes volúmenes de datos (big data), de donde emanan flujos sin precedentes de datos desde y hacia los sistemas computacionales, y los datos amplios (broad data), en los que numerosos conjuntos de datos pueden ser semánticamente vinculados para crear significados más profundos, son los motores de esta revolución, ofreciendo nuevas oportunidades a las ciencias naturales, sociales y humanas.
The End Justified the Means: Building Makerere University Library Extension with a Low Budget
(Makerere University, 2013) Musoke, Maria G. N.
The paper shares the experience of Makerere University librarians, Uganda, in raising funds locally and setting up a model academic library in Sub-Saharan Africa. The first building of the Makerere University Main Library was opened in 1959, extended in 1972 and doubled its space in 2011. Both the growing number of students and advances in information and communication technology led to the need for the construction of a new library building extension, which is connected to the old building by a bridge. The recent extension made it possible to cater for information and communication technology facilities previously difficult to fit in the old architecture. Due to financial constraints, however, the extension was built in a phased manner; the first half of the building (4,000 m2) was completed in 2007, while the second half (also 4,000 m2) was completed in 2011 and opened with a colourful ceremony in 2012. The paper reports the expanded facilities that have provided infinite possibilities for library users and have increased overall library usage. For example, modern libraries provide space for collaborative work, which was lacking in the old building; group study rooms with wi-fi connectivity have been used since 2007. Additional information and communication technology facilities for different categories of library users including those with disabilities are outlined. A Research Commons providing a one-stop centre for academic work was established. Makerere was the first university to provide such a facility in Uganda. A Learning Commons for undergraduate students, a multimedia unit, a mothers’ space for expectant library users and staff, a fountain to provide the soothing sound for the 24/7 reading area and a music digital archive are highlighted. Indeed, the new library building has provided infinite opportunities as development partners were attracted to support the effort of librarians and donated modern information and communication technology facilities and furnishing for the new building. The paper finally reports the various lessons learned.
Information and its value to health workers in rural Uganda: a qualitative perspective
(Health libraries review, 2000) Musoke, Maria G. N.
A study was conducted in 1998/99 to investigate the accessibility and use of information by health workers in rural Uganda. Data were collected qualitatively using semi-structured interviews. As a qualitative study, it focused in-depth on a relatively small sample of health workers selected purposefully. Different categories of health workers were interviewed. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. In this paper, two main categories that emerged from the data will be discussed, namely: value of information and constraint Information was valuable in clinical work, information dissemination, decision making, administration and detection. Constraints to effective information use included the quality and relevance of the information as well as the difficulties of sometimes putting theory into practice. Finally, the concepts that emerged from the analysis of the use of information pointed directly to the information needs of the health workers studied, which shows that information was valuable in meeting those needs. Some implications of the study and areas for further research are highlighted.
Informing Policy and Practice Through Assessment of New Library Books' Usage at Makerere University
(Acquisitions, & Technical Services, 2017) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Mwesigwa, Andrew
Makerere University Library procured 11,811 copies (4,662 titles) of the latest editions of textbooks with funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York. By the time of the study, there were 20,251 titles in both International Development Agency and Law textbook sections of themain library, of which 23% were the newly acquired titles. The books were selected by lecturers from all academic departments. Prior to the selection, lecturers were trained in modern book selection methods to ensure that they made appropriate selections and updated the reading lists. Once received, the bibliographic records of new books were entered in the Virtua Integrated Library System. After 1 year, Makerere University Library conducted a study to find out whether the new books were being used, how relevant the books were to users’ needs, whether the reading lists were current, whether user education, library catalogues, etc., had any influence on the usage of new books. The first set of data was electronically collected for 2 weeks during the peak period (11th and 12th weeks of the semester) using the Virtua Integrated Library System circulation module. While the second set of data was collected in the 5th and 7thweeks of the semester both electronically andmanually to address the gaps realized in the first set of data that was collected only electronically. A short, self-administered questionnaire was used to manually collect data; it had 10 questions, two of which were open-ended. The quantifiable data was analyzed using Google spreadsheets, while the qualitative datawas categorized into themes. The findings indicated that the books were overwhelmingly relevant (95%); while 93% of the respondents identified the new books fromthe reading lists, confirming that the lists had been updated and hence the book selection training was timely. Course mates contributed 30%, online catalogue 14%, while library user education (20%) and other information literacy training sessions contributed to raising awareness about the new books and the sections where they are located. The article concludes by highlighting the implications of the study findings for policy and practice, lessons learned, as well as identifying areas in library services at Makerere University Library that require further research.
Librarians’ contribution to social change through information provision: the experience of Makerere University Library
(2014) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Namugera, Lydia
Makerere University Library (Maklib) holdings include a rich collection of data and information resulting from its multiple roles, namely: serving as Uganda’s National Legal Deposit unit since 1958, the National Reference Library since 1972, as well as its primary role of serving Makerere University academic community and managing its Institutional Repository. The institutional repository consists of the legal deposit materials and Makerere University institutional documents One of Makerere University’s strategic priorities is community outreach. To support this priority, Maklib conducts various outreach activities which have contributed to social development, for example: Annual Library day outreach since 2009, which includes school support through re-organisation of libraries, training of library staff and donation of books; a periodic health information digest has been produced through repackaging of current literature on topical health issues and distributed to over one thousand-five hundred health units in Uganda since 1997; health information literacy training workshops to equip health workers with skills to utilise information resources and improve the quality of health care provision in Uganda. This paper will share the experience of conducting the above outreach activities and their evaluation, which demonstrate the role of librarians in responding to societal needs. Furthermore, a Library Gender Sentinel Site Committee (LGSSC) was set up in 2004 at Maklib to address gender issues. Among other things, the LGSSC holds a week-long celebration before every International Women’s day and distributes information on the day’s theme to library users. Since 2012, a Mother’s space, where expectant library users take a break, was set up in the new Main Library building extension to provide a conducive reading environment. Maklib proactively collects feedback from library users about its services. This paper also shares the feedback about Maklib services which, among other things, confirmed that ‘Change is a fact of life’ and information accessed and applied leads to societal development.
Reconstruction @Maklib with minimal resources
(IFLA, 2010) Musoke, Maria G. N.
The paper presents the experiences of Makerere University Librarians in trying to reconstruct the library services, with minimal resources, to ensure that the Library remains relevant and central to the academic life of the University. Efforts to reconstruct the library to enable its users to benefit from the opportunities created by the digital information age are highlighted giving examples of the achievements, challenges faced and how they have been addressed, as well as lessons learned. One of the key lessons is that investing in building the capacity of librarians to drive the reconstruction process and to sustain it is a key factor in all the achievements recorded. The paper also highlights the importance of collaboration and networking among librarians, as well as support from the University administration and Development partners. Indeed some visible and tangible reconstruction is possible with minimal resources, but with determination and focus, as ‘we build for the future’.
Skills Acquired and Passed on: The Collaboration between the University of Bergen and Makerere University Libraries and their New Partners in the North and South
(Makerere University, 2009) Landoy, Ane; Musoke, Maria G. N.
Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Bergen in Norway celebrate ten years of collaboration in 2009. The collaboration includes the libraries in the two Universities, focusing on continuing professional development. This paper reports the activities of the collaboration between the two University libraries, and highlights the multiplier effect of the collaboration, which has led to new partners at the University of Juba in Southern Sudan, the East African School of Library and Information Science (EASLIS) at Makerere and the Norwegian School of Librarianship at Oslo University College. The new partners have joined to implement the Juba University Library Automation Project (JULAP) that is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. JULAP aims to rebuild the Juba University Library that was closed because of the war in 1985. The project has two main components: automation of the library and training of library staff who are already working in the library, as well as sponsoring young people for a Bachelor’s degree in Librarianship at EASLIS. The training of library staff has a theoretical component conducted by EASLIS, while the practical component is handled by Makerere University Library staff using the skills they acquired over time from collaborations with skilled librarians from the North. Part of the project includes the acquisition of a library system, and the training of staff to use the system. The paper then outlines the activities of the project, the challenges faced and how they have been addressed, the achievements and future plans. Although most collaboration usually involves two institutions, this paper highlights the growth of the collaboration from two institutions to where it is now, and the audience is encouraged to learn from this experience and replicate it to be able to ‘build bridges’ of LIS education in Developing countries.
South–North collaboration and service enhancements at Makerere and Bergen University libraries
(African Minds, 2016) Musoke, Maria G. N.; Landøy, and Ane
Collaboration between Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Bergen in Norway began in 1999. In 2009, the two universities celebrated the first ten years of their ongoing relationship, which includes research collaboration, scientific competence-building, student and staff exchanges, and institutional development (Musoke and Landoy 2014). The relationship also extends to the libraries at the two universities, and the collaboration between Makerere University Library (Maklib) and the University of Bergen Library (UOBL) is the focus of this chapter, although their partnership has gradually expanded to draw in libraries at other universities in Uganda, Norway and South Sudan.
Special issue: Health information transforming lives
(IFLA Journal, 2019) Musoke, Maria G. N.
The Health and Biosciences Libraries Section (HBS) of the International Federation of Library and Information Associations (IFLA) is the IFLA ‘voice’ on health and biosciences information and libraries. The HBS, therefore, acts as a forum for special libraries concerned with all aspects of information management and services in relation to the medical, health and other biological sciences. The HBS aims include: the implementation of and support for better management and provision of health care information to health practitioners, researchers, academics and consumers; facilitating the development and application of new technologies relevant to the health and biosciences libraries; supporting the next generation of health information professionals; strengthening and/ or initiating the cooperation between HBS and related libraries, organisations, institutions and associations at national, regional and international levels. The HBS, therefore, focuses on Sustainable Development Goal number 3.

Browsing by Author "Musoke, Maria G. N."

Results Per Page

Sort Options