The Status of Information Resource Sharing Among University Libraries in Tanzania. The Case of MUHAS, UDSM, OUT and TUDARCO Libraries.

Chaula, Salatiel Selemani (2021) The Status of Information Resource Sharing Among University Libraries in Tanzania. The Case of MUHAS, UDSM, OUT and TUDARCO Libraries. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of examining the status of information resource sharing among academic libraries in Tanzania. To meet this objective, the study sought to: find out the status of resource sharing among academic libraries; examine forms of information resource sharing among academic libraries; establish the presence of documented policies on resource sharing among university libraries; examine the potential of ICT as a tool to enhance resource sharing among academic libraries; and identify challenges faced by Academic Libraries in enhancing resource sharing . In pursuing these objectives, the study employed a mixed methods approach under which a descriptive research design was used to collect, analyse and discuss data. Data was collected from the University of Dar es Salaam, the Open University of Tanzania, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, and Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College [TUDARCo]. Data was collected from library users, library staff members, ICT staff members, and library service directors. The study used questionnaires, an interview guide, and focus group discussion checklist to collect data from a sample size of 184 members. The study found out that all the libraries are engaged in some form of resource sharing. However, such activities were found to be unsatisfactory except for Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences library where such activities were carried out more regularly. In addition to that some of them are engaging in networking. Furthermore the study also found out that there is no library policy in place guiding resource sharing practices in the surveyed universities. In addition, the study revealed the absence of a national policy on resource sharing. Furthermore, the study confirmed that ICT plays a great role in facilitating resource sharing in the libraries under study. Although the libraries were making efforts to practice resource sharing, their initiatives were facing a number of challenges including; lack of management support, and insufficiency of ICT facilities. The study recommends among other things that: Universities should consider to put in place policy on library resource sharing at institutional and national level. Considering the vital role played by ICT in information services and the impact they have in resource sharing in particular, all libraries need to beef up their ICT infrastructure, if they are to leverage their capabilities. Keywords: Library resource sharing –University Libraries, Tanzania.

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