Library and Information Needs and Barriers to the Use of Information Sources by Continuing Education Students at the University of Botswana

Abstract

A study to determine the library and information needs of 80 continuing education students of the University of Botswana pursuing Diploma in Accounting and Business Studies was carried out in two locations in Botswana, with the objectives of identifying the library and information needs of the part-time evening students; identifying the barriers to the use of information sources; and establishing the extent of knowledge of computing and information skills by the part-time evening students. The findings reveal that major areas of information need related to course of study: job opportunities; career development and further education after diploma programme. The study also reveals that the University of Botswana Library does not adequately cater for the library and information needs of the students. The study recommends that the University of Botswana Library should ask for a space in the local public library, a secondary school or any school library to keep some materials for their use, that the University should negotiate access to and/or install computer with Internet facilities for them in a local library and lastly, the University Library or its branch should run a mobile library that would visit the satellite centres occasionally.