CFP last date
20 December 2024
Reseach Article

Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities of Selected Digital Libraries in Ethiopia

by Getachew Gedamu, Alehegn Adane, Assefa Chekole
International Journal of Computer Applications
Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Volume 179 - Number 36
Year of Publication: 2018
Authors: Getachew Gedamu, Alehegn Adane, Assefa Chekole
10.5120/ijca2018916720

Getachew Gedamu, Alehegn Adane, Assefa Chekole . Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities of Selected Digital Libraries in Ethiopia. International Journal of Computer Applications. 179, 36 ( Apr 2018), 7-13. DOI=10.5120/ijca2018916720

@article{ 10.5120/ijca2018916720,
author = { Getachew Gedamu, Alehegn Adane, Assefa Chekole },
title = { Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities of Selected Digital Libraries in Ethiopia },
journal = { International Journal of Computer Applications },
issue_date = { Apr 2018 },
volume = { 179 },
number = { 36 },
month = { Apr },
year = { 2018 },
issn = { 0975-8887 },
pages = { 7-13 },
numpages = {9},
url = { https://ijcaonline.org/archives/volume179/number36/29272-2018916720/ },
doi = { 10.5120/ijca2018916720 },
publisher = {Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA},
address = {New York, USA}
}
%0 Journal Article
%1 2024-02-07T00:57:33.730695+05:30
%A Getachew Gedamu
%A Alehegn Adane
%A Assefa Chekole
%T Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities of Selected Digital Libraries in Ethiopia
%J International Journal of Computer Applications
%@ 0975-8887
%V 179
%N 36
%P 7-13
%D 2018
%I Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA
Abstract

This study explores the current trends, challenges and opportunities of selected digital libraries in Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was used to get pertinent data administered to library staffs and digital library users using purposive and convenience sampling technique respectively. The study identified that Dspace and Green Stone are used digital library platforms in most of the digital libraries in Ethiopia because of its interactive user interface, full text accessibility, and easiness for installation criteria’s. The study results showed that thesis and dissertations and rare books were the most ranked items digitized for academic and research purpose. The major challenges of digital libraries in Ethiopia were found copyright issue of intellectual properties, and lack of funds to support digital libraries, incompatibility of digital library platforms for local languages, and lack of digital library plan, policy and procedures. Low speed of Internet connection and low quality of digital collections were problems while users gaining access to digital libraries. To educational, cultural, historical and governmental documents preservation and to wide document accessibility were placed the major opportunities for digital libraries in Ethiopia. Therefore digital libraries in Ethiopia should have a national digital library policy, plan, standards, and procedures for successful digital library development in the country were forwarded as recommendations.

References
  1. P. Ngimwa, " An African experience in providing a digital library service: the African Virtual University example " Africa Higher Education Online, 2006.
  2. G. Chowdhury, "Digital Divide: How Can Digital Libraries Bridge the Gap," in in Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Asian Digital Libraries: Digital Libraries: People, Knowledge, and Technology, vol. 58, Asia, 2002, pp. 258-283.
  3. K. Adane, "Building Digital Libraries in Academic Libraries of the Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities," Masters of Science In Information Science, School of Information Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, 2013.
  4. K. Sileshi, "Implementation Status of Digital Library System in three Universities of Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities," Master of Science in Information Science, Department of Information Science, Haramaya University, Haramaya, 2014. S. B. H. Sagar S. Kumbhar, "Digital Library Management : Challenges and Opportunities," presented at the Changing Role of Library Professionals in ICT Environment, Pachawad, 2015.
  5. Gani, Esther and Magoi, Joshua Sani, "The emergence of digital libraries services in northwest nigerian universities: challenges and prospects" (2014). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1184.
  6. V. k. R, "A study on challenges and opportunities for academic libraries in migrating to e-resources," International Journal of Digital Library Services, vol. 6, pp. 85-94.
  7. S. G.T, "Impact of digital era on academic libraries: it’s play with library professionals," International Journal of Library & Information Science (IJLIS), vol. 6, pp. 1-7, July–August 2017.
  8. Srinagar, Kashmir, Humma, "A study on the open source digital library software: Special reference to DSpace, EPrints and Greenstone," International Journal of Computers and Applications vol. 59, pp. 1-9, December, 2012.
  9. Madalli, D. P. (2003). A digital library of library and information science using DSpace.
  10. Kumar, V. "Selection and Management of Open Source Software in Libraries," Annuals of Information Studies, vol. 59, pp. 223-230, 2012.
  11. R. Carr, “The future of libraries and collection,” Keynote Address to the Fiesole Collection Development Retreat, Oxford, 20 July, 2000.
  12. U. Otubelu Blessing Nnenna, Leonard Emenike, "Digitization of Library Resources in Academic Libraries: Challenges and Implication " IOSR Journal of Mobile Computing & Application (IOSR-JMCA), vol. 2, pp. 35-40, MAy-June 2015.
  13. J. Atkinson, "Collaboration and Academic Libraries: An Overview and Literature Review," in Collaboration and the Academic Library, J. Atkinson, Ed., ed: Elsevier Ltd, 2018, pp. 11-33.
  14. Stueart, Robert D. and Moran, B., Library and Information Centre Management Englewood: Libraries Unlimited, 1997.
  15. Getachew Bayissa, Girum Ketem, Yitagessu Birhanu, "Status of digitization process in selected institutions of ethiopia: A baseline stakeholders’ analysis survey report," Ethiopian Journal of Education and Science, vol. 5, pp. 1-18, 2010.
  16. Lynette Karimi Ringeera, "A Survey of The Challenges Facing The Use of Digital Libraries in Kenya: A Case Study of Kenyatta University Avu Library," Master of Business Administration (Mba) Degree, Business Administration, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI, NAIROBI, September, 2007
Index Terms

Computer Science
Information Sciences

Keywords

Challenges Digital Library Digital Library Staffs Digital Library Users Ethiopia Opportunities Trends