Information Development current issue

Information and Communication in Society

Parker, S. — 2008-07-24

Information Development News

2008-07-24

CDS/ISIS Information

Hopkinson, A. — 2008-07-24

Education for Librarianship and Information Studies: fit for purpose?

Johnson, I. M. — 2008-07-24

The Representation of HIV/AIDS in the Media and its Impact among Young People in Namibia: a study of Windhoek and Katima Mulilo

Chanda, M., Mchombu, K., Nengomasha, C. — 2008-07-24

HIV/AIDS poses a serious challenge to Namibia's socio-economic development. The virus affects the country's most economically active segment: young people between the ages of 15 and 49. A number of communication campaigns have been carried out to mitigate the spread of the virus. This article reports on a study that examined the impact of media representations of HIV/AIDS on behaviour change among young people in Namibia. The study also sought to examine the extent to which the audience's interpretations of these representations influenced their behaviour. The findings demonstrate the effects HIV/AIDS messages had on the participants. These include a process of reinterpretation, negotiation and rejection of some of the media representations of HIV/AIDS. The paper is based on a final year research project carried out at the Department of Information and Communication Studies, University of Namibia, in 2007.

Information and Communication in Bandit Country: an exploratory study of civil conflict in northern Uganda 1986--2007

Sturges, P. — 2008-07-24

The conflict in northern Uganda between government forces and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has created an information seeking environment with deep and unusual problems. This study is based on the literature, enriched by informal interviews in Uganda. Government neglect of the region and the LRA's communication through spirit messages and the symbolic use of violence have exacerbated the conflict by creating an intractable information and communication environment. It is concluded that long term resolution of the conflict can only be achieved through solutions that include the restoration of the institutions and practices of effective communication so as to facilitate information seeking.

The Orentlicher Principles on the Preservation and Access to Archives Bearing Witness to Human Rights Violations

Mnjama, N. — 2008-07-24

This article examines Diane Orentlicher's 'Updated Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through Action to Combat Impunity' and their implications for African countries. The article argues that these principles provide avenues through which records relating to human rights violations, abuses and those arising out of truth and reconciliation commissions may be preserved and made accessible as part of a nation's collective memory. The article further examines how these principles are currently applied to the management of South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission archives, though the principles themselves were formulated after the Commission had finalized its work. The article concludes by examining the possibility of adopting these principles by African governments.

Factors Influencing the Adoption and Development of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Programs, with Particular Reference to the Arab Gulf States

Al Salmi, J. — 2008-07-24

This paper aims to establish the framework for understanding the positive and negative factors affecting the adoption and development of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) programs with particular reference to the situation in the Arab Gulf States. The reviewed literature shows that several interrelated factors have been found to encourage the adoption and development of ETD programs in university libraries: the appreciation of the benefits of ETD programs, awareness of these programs, and effective promotional and advocacy work that lead to cultural changes related to views on ETD programs. With regard to the Arab Gulf States, even though there is a lack of available literature, it appears that university libraries have the required infrastructure for encouraging the adoption and development of ETD programs. On the other hand some factors have been found to discourage the adoption of ETD programs. These include: technological factors, legal issues and other administrative issues. With regard to the Arab Gulf States, the available literature shows that some of the influencing factors are the same as those found in other countries, especially administrative and technological factors. In conclusion, it seems that most issues influencing the adoption and development of ETD programs can be resolved by undertaking appropriate promotional and advocacy activities.

Low-Cost Provision of XML Bibliographic Records

Naicheng Chang, — 2008-07-24

Many situations require XML files of bibliographic records to be produced but there is no easy way of producing these files. CDS/ISIS is a MARC-compatible bibliographic database management system provided by UNESCO which has recently implemented a module which converts bibliographic records into XML files. This paper gives a brief description of XML for bibliographic purposes and then illustrates CDS/ISIS XML functionality.

Forthcoming Events

2008-07-24

Stray Thoughts: Money (That's What I Want)

Msafiri, — 2008-07-24