Use of electronic resources by law academics: a case study from the University of Namibia

Pages57-68
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/CC-06-2019-0017
Published date02 January 2020
Date02 January 2020
AuthorAnna Leonard,Nampa Meameno Hamutumwa,Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Collection building & management
Use of electronic resources by law academics: a
case study from the University of Namibia
Anna Leonard and Nampa Meameno Hamutumwa
Library Department, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, and
Chiku Mnubi-Mchombu
Department of Human Rights and Documentation Centre, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of e-resources by the Faculty of Laws academic staff at the University of Namibias
(UNAMs) main campus. The study aimed to determine their level of awareness of electronic resources (e-res ources) available to them, how useful
and effective they found these e-resources, and the challenges they face in accessing t hem.
Design/methodology/approach A convenient sampling technique was used to select a sample of 12 law academics from the population of 17.
The study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods using questionnaires and a semi-structured interview gu ide.
Findings Findings revealed that the majority of the law academics were aware of the e-resources subscribed by UNAMs library, although some
were not aware of the newly subscribed international law databases. The ndings further revealed that the academics used e-resources for research,
publications and teaching purposes, but irregular training, bandwidth problems and limited searching skills hindered their use of e-resources.
Practical implications Findings could be used to inform future collection-development decisions, realignment of information-literacy training and
promotion and marketing of library services.
Originality/value This study has made a signicant contribution in the understanding the use of electronic legal resources by law academics at
UNAM. The ndings and recommendations could also benet similar academic institutions in developing countries like Nami bia.
Keywords Academic libraries, Electronic resources, Online databases, Namibia, Law faculty, Usage studies
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Developments in informationand communications technology
(ICT) have resulted in academic libraries havingto play a very
important role in supporting research (Bhatt, 2014)by
facilitating the widespread availability, accessibility and
efcient dissemination of information resources to academic
staff (Kaba and Said, 2015). Library resourcesare traditionally
characterised by printed materials such as books and printed
journals. However, Joo and Choi (2015) observed that this
norm and tradition is quickly giving way to digitised worksand
online technologies. According to Dhanavandan (2012)
electronic resources (e-resources) usually consist of e-journals,
e-books, newspaper articles, dissertation theses and databases.
This study adopts Isiaka and Morayos (2016) denition of e-
resources, which includes CD-ROM databases, online
databases and others available via computer and networking
facilities subscribed to and made available by institutions to
their staff and students.Electronic resources have become a top
priority in academic and research organisations, especially in
developing countries;they are not only a necessity in our times,
but contribute to the face value of any academic institution.
Electronic resources have the advantage of being more current
and sometimes more comprehensive than comparable print
equivalents (Pelzer and Wiese, 2006). The University of
Namibia (UNAM) library subscribes to several electronic
resources includingEmeraldInsight, HeinOnline, EBSCOhost,
SA e-Publications (Sabinet African Journals) and Scopus, just
to mention a few examples of online databasesrelevant to law.
To encourage the use of e-resources by academics, it is
pivotal to understand the underlying reasonsfor their selection
and purpose for using e-resources, and the difculties
academics have while using them. Understanding these factors
is critical to identifyingstrategies to increase the use of library e-
resources by academics, a signicant segment of users of
academic libraries (Joo and Choi, 2015). The ndings of this
study are expected to be useful for academic institutions and
libraries in Namibiato improvethe use of e-resources by faculty
members.
Statement of the problem
The Faculty of Law at UNAM underwent a quality review in
2014, in which the library was criticised for not providing
access to up-to-date information resources on law and that the
library was not well equipped to empower students and
lecturers to carry out competent research (Centre for Quality
Thecurrentissueandfulltextarchiveofthisjournalisavailableon
Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
39/3 (2020) 5768
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-06-2019-0017]
This study was conducted without external funding or nancial assistance.
Therefore, there is no conict of interest.
Received 27 June 2019
Revised 28 October 2019
Accepted 14 November 2019
57

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