Library cooperation in Zimbabwe: in search of a suitable model to underpin national development

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/EL-04-2017-0072
Published date06 August 2018
Date06 August 2018
Pages633-649
AuthorCollence Takaingenhamo Chisita,Archie Dick
Subject MatterInformation & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet
Library cooperation in Zimbabwe:
in search of a suitable model to
underpin national development
Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita and Archie Dick
Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose The paper explores library cooperationin Zimbabwe and gathers views from librarians on the
need for a library consortium model to underpin national development. This study aims to investigate the
development of library consortia in Zimbabwe and then propose a model that will both accelerate their
developmentand support the countrys national development agenda.
Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for an investigative study using a multi-method
research design. Data on existing library consortia, namely, Zimbabwe University Library Consortium
(ZULC) and College and Research LibraryConsortium (CARLC), were collected through questionnaires and
interviews.The data were complemented by documentary analysis includingprimary sources of information,
for example,annual reports and brochures. Data were analysed qualitativelyand quantitatively.
Findings The paper providesempirical insights on how ZULC and CARLC are transformingthe provision
of library services in severalways, for example, providing for the dynamic needs of users and strategizing on
overcoming rising costs of scholarly content through resource sharing. The proposed model effectively
elevates the fundamental library consortium principles of cooperation and sharing onto the national
development stage, and it is novel and pioneering. The gestures and general remarks made recently by
Zimbabwe Library Association and some ZULC membersabout national development and ZIMASSET are
given rigorousand scholarly expression in this model.
Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen research approach, the research results
may lack generalisability beyond Zimbabwe. It is therefore imperative for researchers to test the proposed
propositionsfurther.
Practical implications The paper includes implications for the development of a library consortia model to
underpin national development in Zimbabwe. The existing academic sector library consortium still excludes other
types of libraries from participating in resource sharing and promoting access to information on a national
development scale. The proposed library consortium model providing for nation-wide access to information is
critical in realising national development goals in Zimbabwe. Currently, academic library consortia are contrib uting
immensely through supporting learning, teaching and research in their respective institutions. Such benets can
also be extended to all institutions through a national library consortium to support development in Zimbabwe.
Originality/value This paper fulls an identied needto study how the development of a nation-wide
library consortium model can be realised. There is relatively little researched information on library
cooperation and library consortia and national development in Southern Africa with specic reference to
Zimbabwe. The paper seeks to close the gap by providing information on library cooperation and library
consortiaand national development in Zimbabwe.
Keywords Zimbabwe, Resource sharing, Access to information, Library cooperation,
National development
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The twenty-rst century has seen libraries evolving new strategies to overcome numerous
challenges, for example, underfunding and increasing costs of library resources
Library
cooperation in
Zimbabwe
633
Received1 April 2017
Revised18 August 2017
2 October2017
11October 2017
6November 2017
Accepted16 November 2017
TheElectronic Library
Vol.36 No. 4, 2018
pp. 633-649
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-04-2017-0072
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
(Chisita, 2017). The development of several models of library consortia in different parts of
the world provides lessons for Zimbabwe on how to overcome challenges of accessing
information to support learning, teaching and research. Neal (2011)describes cooperation
as a part of research librariesprofessional DNA which enable such institutions to adjust
given the transition from knowledge scarcity over the centuries, to data and information
overabundance in the twenty-rstcentury. This statement suggests that librarycooperation
has been a constant for service, success and survival in the knowledgesociety. Okeagu and
Okeagu (2008) state that library co-operation has to be based upon common will, common
goals that are simple and convincing for paymasters and organizational structures which
help in crossing organizationalboundaries, as well as existence of an agreeable and efcient
agent or agencies Also, it is apparent that increasing collaboration, partnerships, joint
ventures and collectivesof all types amongst different library entities willaffect the national
development andthe future of library cooperation in Zimbabwe.
2. Statement of the problem
The development of library consortia is a universal trend and Zimbabwe is no exception.
Library cooperation amongst some Zimbabwean libraries is characterised by basic inter-
library loans (ILL) (Chisita, 2017). However, in the modern information and communication
technology (ICT) era, Zimbabwean libraries should go beyond inter library loans by
adapting cooperation models that bring economics of scale and support national
development goals. Libraryconsortia have the potential to contribute immensely to national
development through providing access to information to users. Currently, in Zimbabwe,
only academic librariesare organised into library consortia in Zimbabwe.The other types of
libraries including school and public are not benetting from consortial initiative when
compared with those in SouthAfrica, Kenya, Zambia and Ghana.
The problem is that without a suitable model for nation-wide access to electronic
scholarly content,the realisation of national development goals as spelt out in the Zimbabwe
Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation [Zimbabwe Agenda for
Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET), 2013-2018] economic blue print
will be unachievable. As a result,the lack of a harmonised national library consortia system
and model will affect the success of national development plans, as access to information
underpins all the clusters of Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic
Transformation (ZIMASSET) (Chisita, 2017). Zimbabwe desperately needs a library
consortium model with capacity to provide for nation-wide access to information for
sustainable development.
The proposed library consortium model resonates well with the countrys ZIMASSET
blueprint with regard to providing access to learning,teaching and research. The academic
libraries are criticalto the realisation of ZIMASSET objectives and sustainabledevelopment
goals. Access to high-quality informationby researchers and scholars is critical component
for national development, hence the need for a vibrant national library consortium
(Chisita, 2017). The success of ZIMASSET cannot be accomplished without a high-quality
human capital baseand hence the need for research on innovative academiclibrary services.
This research study aimed to examine library cooperationin Zimbabwe and recommend
a suitable model for national development.The research study also proposes practical ways
to improve the services of library consortia. There were some limitations to this study, for
example, although the ndings and conclusions of the study may be useful to other
countries, they cannot be generalisedas being valid for them. Zimbabwe has its own unique
socio-economic and politicalenvironment which contrasts sharply with any other country in
the world.
EL
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634

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