The emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya: apomediaries or infomediaries?

Abstract

PurposeThe main purpose of this study was to investigate the emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya, with a view to determining whether they perform better as apomediaries or infomediaries. The specific objectives were to: examine the characteristics of the changing information universe in which academic librarians in Kenya currently operate; analyse the information-seeking behaviour of academic library users in the new information universe and examine the emerging roles of academic librarians in Kenya.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a descriptive research design and used an online survey research technique to collect data from practising academic librarians. This study targeted senior librarians from all the 67 private and public universities in Kenya. One senior librarian per university was purposefully selected to fill the questionnaire owing to their experience and expertise. 33 out of the 67 senior librarians responded to the survey. The collected data were descriptively analysed using SPSS, and as per the study objectives.FindingsThis study established that most library users are digital independent and access library resources remotely. Nonetheless, many users still borrow and utilize print books despite the ubiquity of digital platforms. The findings revealed that academic librarians to a great extent now play the role of apomediaries, going beyond information giving to empowering their users.Practical implicationsThere is need for academic librarians in Kenya to not only be aware of the characteristics of their current users but also to continuously develop professionally so as to be able to adequately cater for the needs of their clients.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the scholarship on librarians' roles in Kenya by demonstrating that most of them are transitioning to the apomediary roles.

Roles and emerging trends of academic libraries in Kenya

“…This mushrooming of universities in Kenya has made Kenya boost by having approximately 17 universities offering library and information studies at different levels. Nakitare et al (2020) says that more universities and colleges are offering library studies courses at both lower and higher levels due to high demand; this point can also be supported from our earlier discussion on the various roles of academic libraries in Kenya. Traditionally, academic libraries have always been considered as spenders, i.e.…”

Digitilization of academic libraries, a response to the blended mode of teaching in private higher learning institutions in Africa

“…Today, the academic librarian has to move from the central position of being between users and information to a position of Apo mediation of standing by and supporting the users as they seek to access information. Academic libraries now have to digitalize their collections, services and infrastructure to support lifelong learning, research, scholarly communication and archiving (Nakitare, Sawe et al, 2020). Technological changes and the use of electronically stored and retrieval information systems have changed the way library users are able to access, retrieve and use information.…”

“…Thus, the provision of services in academic libraries has to change and be adapted to the changing of teaching system in higher education. Library services now need to be provided to users regardless of location, program or mode of study in order to meet the changing needs of library users (Nakitare, Sawe et al, 2020).…”

Roles of Local Information Professionals of the Thai Provincial University Libraries

“…Reed 25 has suggested that the role of the local history librarian can be indicated as the manager of the local history collections and services for providing access to the public library users, which include researchers, local historians, students, local inhabitants, and other interested persons. Reed has pointed out the uniqueness of this work, claiming that "[i]f the local history librarian does not collect it, then no one else will" 26 . The British library and information association CILIP assigns similar three roles to the local studies librarians: "collecting local studies materials relevant to the whole of their community, making them accessible to as wide a range of users as possible and preserving those materials for the future" 27 .…”