Browsing by Author "Britz, Johannes"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemAlumni access policies in public university libraries(University of Zululand, 2011-01) Burclaff, Natalie; Britz, JohannesThis paper explores the current library access policies for alumni at a public university system using document analysis, observations and interviews. We found that alumni are specifically addressed in only two library access policies, and borrowing privileges through cards, on-site access and restricted access to electronic resources are common elements in the policies for community users. There are opportunities to expand and standardize services, and we recommend addressing alumni in policies as a separate user group.
- ItemApplying knowledge management strategies to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa(University of Zululand, 2011-01) Cortez, Edwin-Michael; Mullins, Piper; Britz, JohannesSustainability looks to achieve best outcomes for human and natural environments both now and in the indefinite future. It relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment. This paper examines economic development as one aspect of sustainability, with a focus on knowledge management as an economic development strategy. Using Grey’s categories of knowledge management, the authors address sustainable economic development in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Production capability is no longer completely dependent on capital and equipment; information and knowledge assets are increasingly important. In this information economy, success comes from harnessing the information and knowledge of a community. Such “indigenous knowledge,” local and often tacit, exists in every community, every region and every country. This knowledge is useful in identifying new entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as for sustaining and advancing local businesses. SubSaharan Africa provides an excellent case study. No other region of the world is in more dire need of development. The 700 million people in this area face tremendous challenges, including the world’s highest incidence of HIV/AIDS, deep poverty, unemployment, political instability, and a host of related problems. Key factors for using knowledge management as an economic development strategy in the region will include ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) literacy; uncovering and developing local intellectual assets; capturing tacit knowledge; internal and external knowledge sharing; and managing political, social and technological barriers. Other specific recommendations include promoting ICT literacy through training programs; leveraging internet and email technologies for community building; investing financial resources in R & D; and developing metrics for outcome assessment
- ItemOpen access : challenges and barriers to African scholars(University of Zululand, 2009-01) Britz, JohannesThe price of journals (referring here to e-journals as well as hard copies) has risen dramatically over the past three decades, to the point that they can hardly be afforded by academic libraries in rich countries such as the USA. This evidently has even worse implications for academic libraries in Africa, and most of Africa's scholarly community therefore remains marginalized in terms of access to the global body of knowledge. The introduction of the Internet, accompanied by the ability to digitize and manipulate information, has not only changed the knowledge and information landscape permanently, but also changed the publishing industry. It has, for the first time, become possible to reproduce and distribute information products and services at nearly zero marginal cost (Anderson, 2006). The only requirement is access to a computer, the Internet and relevant websites. This new model has led to the global Open Access (OA) movement, whose main aim is to distribute scholarly journals free of charge to its end users. For the first time, there is therefore a real opportunity for African scholars to gain, free of charge (or at least at a very affordable cost), access to digital scholarly journals and the scholarly works of others. The OA movement has, however, not led to the free flow of information on the African continent. While expectations have been raised, there are still many stumbling blocks prohibiting African scholars from fully participating in and benefiting from the OA movement. This paper will highlight some of these stumbling blocks, discussed within the moral framework of the right of access to information. The paper is structured in the following manner : First, the notion of OA will be discussed. Following this, I will elaborate on the right of access to information, thereby establishing the moral framework. The third and final part will address some of the challenges and obstacles facing African scholars regarding access to scholarly work via OA.