Around the World to: The University of Dar es Salaam Library: Collection Development in the Electronic Information Environment

摘要

Technological developments have tremendously impacted on the activities of libraries, causing a major paradigm shift, which challenges libraries and the library profession. Most African academic libraries have either developed the technical infrastructure or are in the process of developing one. The case of the UDSM library demonstrates that with dedication emerging challenges can be transformed to opportunities for development of information services provision. It has made tremendous efforts to develop its IT infrastructure and associated support mechanisms. However, when it comes to collecting e-resources or maintaining a hybrid collection, a number of related challenges come to the foreground. These include costs and financing, justification for selecting e-resources, identifying e-resource usage levels, as well as IT skills of users. On the other hand the library is challenged to support new modes of teaching and learning, specifically, technology enhanced teaching and learning and distance learning programmes introduced at the university.