Information needs and information resources availability for nursing students in mission-Owned schools of nursing in Imo state

This study investigated the information needs and information resources availability for nursing students in mission-owned schools of nursing in Imo State. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and five research questions guided the study. All the 416 second and third year nursing students were used for the study. Questionnaire on Information Needs of Nursing Students and a Checklist on Information Resources Availability were the instruments used to collect data. A total of 397 copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned for analysis representing 95.4% of the total population. All the head- librarian of the schools of nursing complied with the checklist. The findings showed that the students need varieties of information. It also showed that the students consulted different sources, mainly textbooks and internet to meet their information needs. Print information resources were available in the libraries and only few electronic information resources were available. The study recommended that the nursing school authorities should be updating their print resources since students were observed to rely more on textbooks. Also the libraries should upgrade to higher bandwidth so as to have easier and faster access to more e-books and e-journals.Keywords: Information, Information needs, Print and Electronic Information Resources Availability, Nursing Education

Access to health information through partnerships: problems and benefits

Even though in Africa have limited resources for their work; many of them have made innovative and committed efforts to deal with the problems they face; by creating partnerships with other libraries in the region and beyond; and with international agencies that are concerned with information transfer and health promotion. Library partnerships have indeed served several purposes in Africa. However; the greatest challenge facing African libraries today is to keep the partnerships alive and growing. This paper is a series of reflections on the nature and history of partnerships between Universities in Africa and others elsewhere; with a particular focus on those that the Albert cook Medical Library at Makerere University has participated in

Health service priorities in a developing country: biomedical and health information support in Zimbabwe

The Ministry of Health has reallocated available resources to bring more primary health care services to rural areas and to upgrade provincial; general and district hospitals; and more recently; has begun to improve its library services. Two 1984 surveys of the information needs and resources of health professionals showed serious information deficiencies in the general and district hospitals outside the capital; while staff and students in the country's one medical school in Harare were relatively well supplied. In 1983; U.Z.M.L. was designated National Focal Point (NFP) for Health Sciences Information Services. In response to its new reponsibilities as NFP and to the findings of the surveys; and in support of the Ministry of Health's drive to improve health services to its largely rural population; the Medical Library sought to redress the imbalance by improving the supply of information to health workers outside the capital. Steps taken by the NFP and the Ministry to achieve this included the appointment of an Outreach Librarian; the provision of core collections of books and primary health care manuals to peripheral hospital; a training program for library clerks; the establishment of national core journal collection; and the circulation of a digest/update of locally-relevant MEDLINE citations and abstracts to health professionals country-wide. Efforts to provide computerised literature searches and databases; both from MEDLINE on CD-ROM and from locally-generated sources; are also described

Information back-up for Zimbabwe's healthworkers : application of microcomputers and laser disc technologies

This paper outlines attempts being made to counter long standing deficiencies and information back-up for Zimbabwe's health workers; and the present and potential contribution of micro-computers and optical disc technology to theseefforts. It analyses in detail the following: survery of health information needs and resources; core collections of books and journals; MEDLINE on CD-ROM; literature searches and evaluation of the service

Getting information to health workers

The paper analysis a survey of attitudes of medical academic staff to medical library facilities which was carried out in 1984. A detailed analysis of the following: the problem; core collections of books; core collections of journals; production of the digest; contents for inclusion in Current Health Information in Zimbabwe and some other related issues

Socio-political changes in developing countries : the concerns of the Medical Librarian?

The paper describes problems faced by African Libraries and Librarians;notably financial cuts; lack of automation or co-operative sharing of electrically accessed data; cancellation of periodical subscriptions; few monographs; non-functioning photocopiers; and even a lack of basic essentials like catalogue cards; stencils; spine marking equipment and binding services; and telephone and mail services which are faulty or slow. Issues concerning staff training; library processes; user education and orientation are also discussed

Library survey in Matabeleland South Province

This study was carried in Matabeleland South Province by the Health Education Department. The study was carried out to assess the availability; accessibility and the utilization of library services in the province. The design used to carry out the study was the descriptive survey. A self administered questionaire was used as the data collection instrument. The study revealed that the libraries are under utilised and several condition attributed to the under utilisation. Factors such as lack of library space and distances to libraries were identified as contributing to the utilisation

Health information sources in a developing country : Zimbabwe's priorities

This paper reports on the information isolation experienced soon after independence by many of Zimbabwe's health professionals; and on recent and current moves - some tried and tested some not - to counter that isolation and improve the supply of appropriate material and data. It highlights the following: surveys of information needs; national focal point for health information services; outreach services; information sources and projects undertaken by The Universityof Zimbabwe Medical Library

Health information sources in a developing country : Zimbabwe's priorities

This paper reports on the information isolation experienced soon after independence by many of Zimbabwe's health professionals; and on recent and current moves - some tried and tested some not - to counter that isolation and improve the supply of appropriate material and data. It highlights the following: surveys of information needs; national focal point for health information services; outreach services; information sources and projects undertaken by the University of Zimbabwe Medical Library

CD-ROM comes to Zimbabwe : a high tech but appropriate information service for a developing country's health workers

This paper analyses the problems of providing good information support for development programmes with specific reference to Zimbabwe's health information requirements. A survey of information resources and needs and responses to the information needs of users is focused upon and notably: MEDLINE literature searches; online access to MEDLINE; CD-ROM as a solution and the problems and constraints encountered