The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of records management practices on service delivery at the Pensions Department in Kenya. The study was guided by the following objectives: To assess records management policies on service delivery at the Pension’s department in Kenya, to establish the effect of staff capacity on service delivery at the Pension’s Department, to determine the application of ICT in records management on service delivery at the Pension’s Department and to find out the effect of records management practices on service delivery at the Pension Department. The study was guided by the design and implementation of records keeping systems (DIRKS) theory. Mixed method descriptive survey research design was used. The target population was 112 employees where a sample of 88 was derived. A stratified sampling technique guided sample selection. Questionnaire, participant observation and personal interviews supported data collection. Pilot study was undertaken to determine research feasibility and to make improvements to the research instrument. Validity and reliability was achieved using content validity, expert opinion and Cronbach’s alpha. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Presentation of findings was through the application of pie charts, frequency tables and graphs. Ethical considerations in the entire research process was observed. The study found a strong reliability above 0.70 with a response rate of 75%. The study established that respondents agreed that records management policy affected service delivery. It was also found that staff capacity affects service delivery. ICT application in records management was also found to affect service delivery. Finally, the study established that records management practices affect service delivery at the Pension Department. All the four independent variables were found to have positive and strong relationship with service delivery. However, all the independent variables did not have significant effect on service delivery. The study concluded that records management practices affect service delivery at the Pension Department. The study also concluded that there were some written policies that staff were not aware of, security of records was not adequate, there were skill gaps among staff and there were cases of lost files. The study recommended the need to develop clear policies and sensitize the staff for more awareness. It also recommended more resource allocation not only for equipment purchase, but for staff training, acquisition of modern and bigger servers for more electronic records storage and implementation of modern finding aids for easy location and retrieval of records. The study recommended future research in other government agencies, use of different variables and outside Nairobi County.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of generations on information behavior and needs to access and use of library resources and how well academic libraries in Kenya are simultaneously serving both generations. From literature reviewed, a study on the Kenyan scenario on generational behavior and needs was not identified and this study sought to fill that gap. Design/methodology/approach Data collected were done through mixed-methods research using observation, structured interviews and questionnaires. The sample included 143 students and faculty within different generations, and three library staffs at The United States International University-Africa’s Library. Quantitative data were analyzed through SPSS and Excel, while qualitative data were analyzed according to the theme of this study. Likert-scale responses were used to measure information behavior of users’ needs and preferences. Findings Findings showed that the library is serving two distinct generations with different needs: out of a mean score of 5.00 of sample surveyed; digital immigrants need information resources mainly for research at an aggregate 3.93 while digital natives need information resources mainly for examinations at an aggregate 4.01. Both generations need to use technology to access and use information resources at 94% of digital immigrants and an aggregate 81.5% of digital natives surveyed. The library is training both user groups accordingly. This answered the research problem this study sought to assess. Research limitations/implications The generation of users was known only after administering the questionnaires. Consequently, the researcher targeted them using the status of respondents, faculty or student, to maximize sampling for each generation. Undergraduate and master’s students were used to target digital natives, while the faculty was used to target digital immigrants. PhD students were used to target both digital immigrants and digital natives. This study was done only in one location, USIU-Africa’s Library. Originality/value This study assessed how different generations within academic libraries in Kenya could be guided to effectively and efficiently adapt to global changes. This study assessed generational influence on needs and preferences in access and use of information resources, and assessed how academic libraries are concurrently and successfully serving variant user needs in Kenya,
Academic libraries support teaching, learning and research functions of their institutions. Such libraries are found in universities and middle-level colleges including Kenya Medical Training Colleges (KMTC). Public libraries like Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) also support such functions in addition to their core functions like Preservation and conservation of national imprint, enhancement of reading and information seeking habits of the public. This study aimed at comparing strategies used for marketing library services in KMTC and KNLS for information utilization. A descriptive survey research study design was conducted at KMTC and KNLS in Kakamega County.Study participants were recruited using stratified sampling technique. 563 out of a population of 1738 from KMTC and KNLS was sampled using Krecie and Morgan’s sample size determination. A pre-tested questionnaire and interview were used for data collection. Comparison of the marketing strategies; Exhibitions and displays, User Periodic Orientation, Suggestion Box, Library extension services, Through Friends and Tutors were significantly different between KMTC and KNLS P <0.001. Majority of those who accepted that the strategies above were used were from KNLS. However, majority of the participants disagreed about the use of library extension services. The User Periodic Orientation (OR,2.00;95% CI, 1.34, 2.98; p< .001), Suggestion Box (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.24, 0.51; p< .001), Library extension services (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.95, 4.78; p< .001), Through Friends (OR, 9.00; 95% CI, 10.04, 35.95; p< .001), Through tutors (OR, 7.00; 95% CI, 4.43, 12.25; p< .001) were associated with better marketing strategy. Conclusively, librarians in both libraries were knowledgeable in marketing library services. However, the study established that KMTC librarians needed to be proactive in marketing in order serve clients appropriately. The study recommended that managers of the two libraries review their policies to make marketing a mandatory exercise and train librarians in marketing for satisfactory service delivery
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