Enhancing access to animal health information; the role of information specialists

dc.contributor.authorSimui, Muyoyeta
dc.contributor.editorVan der Westhuizen, Erica E.
dc.contributor.editorCroft, Vicki F.
dc.contributor.emailerica.vanderwesthuizen@up.ac.zaen
dc.contributor.otherInternational Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists (5th : 2005 : Onderstepoort, South Africa)
dc.coverage.spatialAfricaen
dc.coverage.spatialZambiaen
dc.date.accessioned2008-08-04T08:32:38Z
dc.date.available2008-08-04T08:32:38Z
dc.date.created2005
dc.date.issued2007
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en
dc.description.abstractThis paper is a product of a larger study conducted between 2002 and 2004 on the state of libraries and use of (ICT) in research and academic libraries in Zambia. It examines the role of information professionals in enhancing access to animal health information under prevailing conditions. Animal health is an integral aspect of the agricultural sector, which has potential to contribute to the economic growth of the country. Sources of information on animal health include libraries, personal collections, colleagues and the Internet. The paper explores existing information services that facilitate access in order to meet the diverse information needs of different user groups ranging from farmers, researchers, lecturers, students, to extension workers and wildlife workers. It discusses challenges and opportunities in facilitating access to animal health information in the Information Age. A primary factor contributing to the poor state of libraries is a lack of appreciation of their place in research, services and development by policy makers at national and institutional levels. For instance, a number of government departmental libraries are left to become dilapidated and are only resuscitated when some externally funded projects include conditions to reorganize the library services. Other challenges include unqualified staff employed to manage the libraries, lack of skills (ICT), poor IT infrastructure, and poor linkages of information systems. The Internet provides access to a wide range of information available for free and at a cost on the web. Information professionals are equipped with skills that are relevant and could be applied to the electronic information environment. These include identifying, evaluating, selecting, acquiring, organizing, storing, retrieving, and disseminating information. This paper describes some efforts towards harnessing free information resources and making them easily accessible by creating simple link collectionsen
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMuyoyeta Simui
dc.description.urihttp://www.library.up.ac.za/icahisen
dc.format.extent108191 bytes
dc.format.extent5 p. : col. photo, tableen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationSimui, M 2006, 'Enhancing access to animal health information; the role of information specialists' in Van der Westhuizen, EE & Croft, V (eds), Running wild, running free: capturing, harnessing and disseminating knowledge flows in support of animal health: 5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists, 4-7 July 2005, Onderstepoort, South Africa, University of Pretoria, Veterinary Science Library, Pretoria, South Africa, pp. 131-135.en
dc.identifier.isbn1868565482
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/6449
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria, Veterinary Science Libraryen
dc.relation.ispartofSession 6 & 7: Role of the Information specialisten
dc.relation.ispartofVan der Westhuizen, EE & Croft, V (eds) 2006, 'Running wild, running free: capturing, harnessing and disseminating knowledge flows in support of animal health: 5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists, 4-7 July 2005, Onderstepoort, South Africa', University of Pretoria, Veterinary Science Library, Pretoria, South Africa.en
dc.relation.requiresAdobe Acrobat Reader, version 6.0 or higheren
dc.rights©University of Pretoriaen
dc.subjectICAHIS proceedingsen
dc.subjectInformation Communication Technologyen
dc.subjectAcademic librariesen
dc.subjectZambiaen
dc.subjectInformation specialistsen
dc.subjectICTen
dc.subjectAnimal health informationen
dc.subject.lcshInformation services -- Zambiaen
dc.subject.lcshLibrary education (Continuing education)en
dc.subject.lcshInternet access for library users -- Zambiaen
dc.titleEnhancing access to animal health information; the role of information specialistsen
dc.title.alternative5th International Conference of Animal Health Information Specialists, 4-7 July 2005, Onderstepoort, South Africaen
dc.title.alternativeRunning wild, running free : capturing, harnessing and disseminating knowledge flows in support of animal healthen
dc.typeBook chapteren

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