Digital Technology Information-Sharing Prospects: A Case of Library Websites in Tanzania During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction

The development of digital technologies supports information sharing and dissemination in libraries. Digital technologies and particularly the use of websites have shown to support information sharing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (Varghese, 2020). This is related to the closure of most of the library buildings, and health restrictions that required most library users to be served remotely. Therefore, librarians were required to connect users with digital content, updating library websites, sharing information resources and respond to different queries from users (Rafiq, Batool, Ali & Ullah 2021). The websites were also used to share various updates related to the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic, provide new arrangements for getting services from the library following library closure and updates from publishing industries (Ali & Gatiti, 2020; University of Cape Town; University of Nairobi Library, 2020). Thus, library websites present one of the essential digital technologies that provide a convenient way through which libraries can communicate and share information with their users.

For example, the use of the website facilitates information sharing and communication between business owners and their customers (Devi & Verma 2018; Okechukwu & Anunobi, 2020). In libraries, websites are used to connect users with information resources and services such as access to scholarly databases, online public access catalogue, research tools and useful links for research and academic purposes (Arshad and Ameen, 2015; Dominguez et al., 2015; Devi & Verma, 2016; Gohain, 2019; Valenti, 2019). Furthermore, library websites are used to give general information such as library history, facilities, working hours, staff and contact information (Herring, 2007; Sife & Tandika, 2014; Gohain, 2019). Similarly, library users can get the experience of a particular library or service through a virtual tour on library websites (Gohain, 2019).

However, the benefits obtained from a particular website largely depend on its application. This requires effective management plans to ensure that library websites are used to support information use and communication. Some scholars like Valenti (2019) support that effective management of library websites is essential to maximise its benefits as information sharing and communication tool. This chapter intends to present an experience shown at universities and research libraries in Tanzania concerning their websites following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion given here is grounded from the findings obtained from Tanzania and experiences given by other library websites in Africa and elsewhere. Thus, the chapter sheds light on the best practices that libraries can employ to support their users through their websites during emergency times and beyond. It is important to note that, unlike other countries that applied lockdowns as a strategy to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, in Tanzania there was a temporary closure of schools and universities. Therefore, most of the students and other library users had limited access to the library buildings.