library

The University of Zambia (UNZA) Acting Chief Librarian has said educational standards in the country will not improve to reach international levels if libraries continue to be under funded.

Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka Star, UNZA Acting Chief Librarian Akakandelwa Akakandelwa said wide access to up-to-date information through libraries is the only way students can understand in detail what they are taught during lectures.

Dr. Akakandelwa said UNZA library has limited current books despite being the National Reference Centre and largest library in the country.

He pointed out that it is unfortunate that restocking of the library has not been prioritized due to limited funding to the university by government.

Dr. Akakandelwa said restocking of books needs to done constantly as times are changing and new information has to be provided to suit the current global situations.

He appealed to UNZA management to consider getting a portion of school fees for every semester so as to facilitate constant funding to improve library services.

He added that there has been no budgetary allocation for purchase of new books for the past 20 years as the money given to the library by UNZA administration is exhausted on paying salaries to library staff.

"The library has been relying on book donations from Book Aid International (BIA), Swedish International Aid (SIDA) and the Finish Development Agency (FINIDA) among others," he said.

Dr. Akakandelwa thanked the donors for the books but said that most of these are not directly connected to the university curriculum.

He however, disclosed that the library management has tried to enhance its services by affiliating with the Zambia Library Consortium (ZALICO) which has been in existence for almost four years.

Dr. Akakandelwa said that it is through the consortium that the library has managed to provide about three thousand free electronic books by subscribing to different websites for an amount a single library can not afford.

He urged library users to utilise the online copies as they can be accessed without a password.

However, he bemoaned the under utilisation of online copies as shown by the number of users visiting the sites.
And UNZA former Vice Chancellor Robert Serpell said there is need to teach students how to use the internet for research if they are to fully appreciate the online information.

Prof. Serpell said most of the online journals are too technical for Undergraduate students to clearly understand.

He said most of the information is secondary and takes someone who understands the concepts of primary information to get more sense out of it.

He added that screening software should be introduced in the university in order to detect plagiarism of information from the internet.

Prof. Serpell said data obtained from the internet can easily be plagiarized than from books.

He said the screening method has helped reduce plagiarism cases even in universities which have well stocked libraries such as the University of West Cape in South Africa.

University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) President, Sage Siamuwika said it is unfortunate that the library is not mainly a research place as intended but a study place.

He said management should prioritise library services if the university is to meet the needs of different stakeholders the library serves.

He disclosed that the union is working with the library management in trying to upgrade the library through the installation of more computers connected to internet.

Mr. Siamuwika said more computers will soon be put in the library so that students can use online copies accessed through the library website.

And a fourth year student in the School of Law, Inutu Akolwa has urged UNZASU and library management to speed up the process of putting more computers to back up the library stock.

Ms Akolwa said books recommended on course outlines are limited in the library.

"When the recommended book is available, it has to be shared by five to ten students who have to finish their assignment at the same time," she said.

Ms. Akolwa pointed out that she usually depends on the National Assembly Library which has exclusive usage.

She wondered how students who may not be privileged to use other well stocked libraries can produce quality academic work to earn them good marks.

"In University, we have to rely on research and not understanding things from our own context without empirical information," she said.




.