This document summarizes a study on assessing the technological readiness of public libraries in Botswana. The study found that while public librarians have a positive attitude towards technology and believe it can improve services, the infrastructure and technologies available in many libraries is outdated. Challenges included poor Internet access due to low bandwidth, a lack of computers and automated systems. Recommendations included improving infrastructure, providing librarians training, and designating an IT staff person at each library to support technology needs.

1. A TECHNOLOGY READINESS
ASSESSMENT IN BOTSWANA
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Liah Shonhe
Department of Library and Information Studies
University of Botswana
A paper presented at the BLA conference on 19-20
September 2018_Gaborone-Botswana

2. PRESENTATION
OUTLINE
Introduction
Literature review
Study findings
Motivation/Problem statement
Conclusion &
recommendations

3. INTRODUCTION
Information
and
Knowledge
Technology
Societal
Transformation
Change in
mindset by
librarians
Acquisition of
technological
skills
Economic
development
Mobile
technologies,
information
retrieval systems,
library management
systems, technology
hubs
Self-readiness
21st century
information needs
Relevant
information, at
the right time, to
the right person
Poverty
eradication

4. MOTIVATION/PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Nigeria (Okiy, 2010)
•Students and lecturers
in tertiary institutions
increasingly
demanded and
preferred access to
electronic sources and
networked
information from their
respective libraries
Botswana (Shonhe &
Jain 2017)
•Potential library users
have positive attitude
towards technology,
they have competent
skills to use mobile
technology and they
access information
daily using mobile
technology

5. MOTIVATION/PROBLEM
STATEMENT
• User demands and
needs are changing.
• 21st century have
high expectations
from information
professionals.
“Are information professionals ready to deliver
library services through the use of technology?”

6. OBJECTIVES
• To assess the technological infrastructure in
Botswana public libraries. (Does Botswana public
libraries suit in to the 21st century digital era?)
• To determine the perspectives of public librarians
towards technology
• To recommend strategies that can be adopted to
ensure that public libraries serve the 21st century
information seekers in the most efficient way.

7. What is a 21st Century
Library?
TERMINOLOGY
PRINCIPLES
CHARACTERIZED BY
 Automated
library
 Digital library
 Hybrid library
 Virtual library
 Library 2.0
 Library without
walls
(Halder, 2009)
 Library services
access everywhere
and anytime.
 Library has no
barriers
 Library invites
participation- more
active then passive
 Flexibility
 Best of breed
systems
(Ramos, 2007)
 Virtual Clients
 Mobile technology
 library information
management systems,
 cloud information
management systems,
 24/7 reference services,
 e-books/content
 Online Public Access
Catalogue (OPACS)
 More life and energetic
atmosphere
 Wireless connectivity
 learning commons’
 coffee café
(Chutia, 2015).

8. Characteristics of 21st
Century Library
New
Librarian
Roles
Change
agents
Knowledg
e workers/
brokers
Digital
curators
Website
builder/
publisherEnd user
trainer/
educator
Collaborato
r
Subjects
experts
Marketing
&
presentatio
n skills
(Khan & Bhatti, 2012;
Uzuegbu & McAlbert,
2012; Verma, 2015).

9. PERSPECTIVE OF LIBRARIANS
TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY
• The success of
ICTs in
libraries,
depend largely
on the
librarians’
attitude
towards ICTs
Adekunle, Omoba
and Tella (2007)
• Due to the benefits
provided by ICTs,
librarians developed a
positive attitude towards
the implementation of ICTs.
Working experience, LIS
education and age were
noted as the factors behind
their positive attitude
Bangladesh
(Yeasmin, 2014)
• Academic librarians
generally had positive
attitudes towards ICTs,
However, respondents
showed negative attitudes
on statements concerning
job fears because of IT,
maintaining automated
library inventory, data
storage on computers,
cost of IT tools”.
Pakistan (Ramzan,
2010)

10. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Optimism
Innovativeness
Insecurity
Discomfort
Overall
Technology
Readiness
Enablers
Inhibitors

11. METHODOLOGY
Data
collection
& analysis
Sampling
Research
approach
Convenience
Purposive
37/42 questionnaires
distributed
21 responses
retained
SurveyMonkey

12. STUDY FINDINGS-
DEMOGRAPHICS
Selebi Phikwe, Maun, Hukuntsi,
Kanye, Nata, Kopong, Lobatse,
Mankgodi, Bobonong,
Maunatlala, Charleshill,
Molalatau, Ramotswa,
Letlhakeng, Kasane, Matlhako,
Gweta, Werda, Tonota and
Manyana.
Participating Libraries Variables Results
Gender Females (n=14,67%)
Males (n=7, 33%)
Level of Education Bachelor’s degree
(n=14, 67%),
Diploma (n=6, 29%)
Certificate=one
level of computer
literacy skills
Intermediate (n=7,
33%)
Proficient level
(n=14, 67%).

13. INFRASTRUCTURE IN BOTSWANA
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
ICT Applications Frequency Percent
Social media networks (e.g. Facebook. WhatsApp, Twitter) 20 95%
Internet/WI-FI connection 19 90%
Email 17 81%
Technology hub (free computer access and training for the
community)
15 71%
Online reference services 5 24%
Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) 2 10%
Library management/automation software 2 10%
Mobile technology services (SMS notification, QR codes) 1 5%
Up to date library website 1 5%
Video conferencing equipment 1 5%
Electronic inter-library loan 0 0%

14. PERSPECTIVES OF
PUBLIC
LIBRARIANS
TOWARDS
TECHNOLOGY

15. OPTIMISM AND
INNOVATIVENESS
Librarians’ View Towards the Use of Technology in the Library
Librarians perceptions Frequency Percent
Allows timely access to current information 20 95%
Increases customer satisfaction 20 95%
Increases retrieval rate and access to information 18 86%
Improves service delivery 17 81%
Increases productivity 16 76%
Increases my confidence in serving library patrons 15 71%
Facilitates innovativeness amongst librarians 14 67%
Enables effective circulation of library resources 13 62%
Improves the acquisition process 9 43%

16. Librarians’ View Towards the
Use of Technology in the
Library
• Participant #8 “Technology motivates librarians and
changes the community's perspective on librarianship”
• Participant #4 “Patrons are only utilizing the IT sources for
socialization rather than to acquire useful information”

17. DISCOMFORT AND
INSECURITY
Reasons for technology resistance
Frequency Percent
Fear of cyber-bullying and cyber-crime 4 40%
Too much dependence on technology 4 40%
There is poor technological support in the library 4 40%
I do not trust sharing personal information online 3 30%
Technology is too expensive 1 10%
There are too many health risks associated with using
technology (eye, back and wrist problems)
0 0%
Technology is difficult to use, I also lack the skills and
knowledge in ICTs
0 0%
11 participants do
not resist the use of
technology.

18. CHALLENGES IN THE APPLICATION OF
ICTs
CHALLENGES SOLUTIONS SUGGESTED
Frequent power cut
Poor technological infrastructure:
 Old computers
 The are no enough ports for laptop usage
 Shortage of computers: Slow internet/low
bandwidth
There is need to increase bandwidth so that
internet access can be improved. Computers
need to be replaced with new models and also
increase their number.
Lack of an automated library database or
website for information dissemination.
Implementation of a library management
system such as Virtua or Koha
Delayed Maintenance: due to dependence on
IT experts from Gaborone.
Each library should have an IT officers to deal
with technological challenges onsite and also
give technological support to the librarians.
Lack of ICT skills by librarians BNLS should consider conducting ICT
workshops for librarians or take them for
short courses in IT.
Technophobia; some librarians fear to use
technology.
Training and sensitizing about the benefits of
ICTs in libraries will help curb this problem.

19. CHALLENGES IN THE
APPLICATION OF ICTs
• Participant #5
“…An old computer is not helpful in that the older it
gets the slower it become. Network upgrading is
necessary to keep up with the current status. In our
library, of the 18 internet ports available, only 6 are
working leading to some computers not having
internet connection. The computers are just idle
there because everyone comes to the library for the
internet. Having one IT officer based in MYSC
headquarters cannot help us.”

20. CONCLUSION
• Public librarians have a positive attitude towards ICTs and
only a few resist the use of ICTs.
• There is need to transform Botswana public libraries to suit
the 21st century era and meet the demands of virtual library
users.
• Librarians are willing to use technology, hence it is left upon
the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture to
change the situation in public libraries.

21. RECOMMENDATIONS - Service
improvement strategy for Libraries

22. FURTHER RESEARCH
• To establish the impact of technology on employee
motivation, job satisfaction and job productivity in
Botswana public libraries.
• To investigate librarians at all levels, not just the
head of stations only. This will give a clear picture
of the librarians’ readiness to adopt ICTs.
• To assess the status of ICT infrastructure in public
libraries.

23. REFERENCES
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journal), 2(4). Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://www.klibjlis.com/2.4.15.pdf
Halder, S. N. (2009). Multimodal roles of library and information science professionals in present era.
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Okiy, R. B. (2010). Globalization and ICT in academic libraries in Nigeria: The way forward. Library
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Ramzan, M. (2010). Attitudes of librarians towards application of information technology in academic
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