Challenges and Opportunities in Building a Successful Digital Library in Developing Countries: Mekelle University, Ethiopia - A Case Study

Background Of The Study

Roberson (2005) defined a library as an institution that manages the intellectual products of society and processes them in such a manner that the individual can readily gain access to them. Access to information through the Internet has changed the role of libraries. Libraries now have both printed document as well as electronic information resources in their collection. The electronic documents can be stored, accessed, and delivered as and when required; therefore, the services of libraries are not confined within the four walls but are integrated into local, regional, national, and international networks. It is widely known that virtually all scholarly and academic journals, electronic databases, online library catalogues, grey literature and other relevant scholarly materials in all fields of knowledge are now accessible on the internet. Information explosion via Internet connectivity has considerably increased the number of electronic information resources available on the web. E-information resources have enhanced accessibility, increased usability, effectiveness and established new ways for information users in using information for more productivity in their endeavors. The value and use of information resources, particularly e-resources, have increased with time. “Therefore, the use of e-resources by users, especially by the Academic staff members of Academic institutions generally depends on the skills of each user to locate discrete knowledge elements.”

According to the Final Report of the American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, the information learned user skill is being able to recognize when information is needed and can locate, evaluate, and use information resources effectively ACRL (1989). “In the 21^st century library and information centers are using computer and information communication technology to acquire, store, process, and disseminate and use information resources around the world.” “So the preference of the teaching community to use the e-resources led Mekelle University Libraries to subscribe to 70 full text and bibliographic databases.” Electronic information resources have become very important for teaching learning and research and development at universities. Thus, the present research has been undertaken to know the level of awareness, use, and availability of e-resources according to the demand of various branches of knowledge at Mekelle University. Thus, the present survey was an attempt to evaluate e-resources awareness, attitude and usability by the academic staff members at Mekelle University and to find out problems encountered by the teaching community.