Ephraim Keoreng
3 October 2008
A report of the University of Pennsylvania library external audit team says that the University of Botswana library (UB) is underutilised and that staff morale is low.
The UB had requested the University of Pennsylvania to undertake an analysis of the UB library so that recommendations can be made for the development of the library in the university's strategic planning for the NDP 10 period.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania library came to Gaborone in May 2008 to undertake an organisational audit of the (UB) library.
The report released last month confined its focus to organisational structures and relationships, staffing patterns and human resource support. It also looked at service delivery mechanisms, facilities and technologies as these impact the library's ability to carry out its current strategic plan and support the mission of the UB.
The findings are that it is not clear as to how systematic the UB strategic planning is in relation to academic information needs and the role the UB library should play in meeting those needs.
"A case in point is the 2008 university research strategy. It outlines an ambitious vision of intensified research performance at UB, a vision with clear implications for library infrastructure, but absent is any mention of the library or its place in the institution's agenda for research advancement".
According to the report the UB has not expressed a clear role for the library concerning information support for distributed clinical health services that UB will provide under the growing mandate for its medical training programs.
The report also raises the issue of unfriendly service policies at UB like where back-packs are not allowed into the library. The security of the backpacks is not assured at all outside. Students have complained against this policy since it was implemented.
According to the report there is no right alignment of accountability and responsibility in the functional relationships among the library's major divisions. The report cited situations where the deputy director of Customer and Extension Services (CES) is responsible for staffing the primary reference service point with staff who are not accountable to his directorate.
The report is concerned that the arrangement undermines the deputy director's ability to adhere to strict work schedules by individuals assigned to staff the (CES) desk.
Low staff morale amongst university library staff due to staff, empowerment related issues, is also cited as a serious issue.
Public affairs acting director Tefo Mangope,said that the report was received by UB in September. He however said that it is an internal document of the UB "which is now under discussion within the UB library prior to wider discussion within the university. "The recommendations in the report will be carefully considered by the relevant bodies within university and their implications for future action will be determined," he said.
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