Access and use of information by ministry of finance and Central bank of Kenya researchers at the central bank Library

Abstract

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) library provides various information services to end users such as those from Ministry of Finance (MOF) and CBK. Despite the important role played by the CBK library in dissemination of information services, it remains underutilized. Furthermore no study has been undertaken to establish access and use of CBK library information services by end users. The aim of the study was to investigate access and use of CBK information services by users from the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Kenya and propose recommendations of enhancing access and use. The specific objectives of the study were to: establish the information needs and seeking behaviour of users; establish the value attached to CBK information services; establish extent to which library services are accessed and used by MOF users; find out the extent of awareness of the users about information services provided; establish challenges experienced by CBK library staff and MOF users in relation to provision, access and use and provide recommendations to enhance provision of information services to MOF and CBK users. The study was informed by Gorman and Crawford (1995) theory of librarianship. The study adopted qualitative research and employed purposive sampling to collect data from 35 respondents: CBK Research Department (5), Ministry of Finance (27) and CBK library (3). All the respondents were interviewed. Data was collected through the use of interviews and data presented and analysed through the use of qualitative techniques. Among the key findings of the study were that: Library promotional tools were ineffective; lack of a structured information literacy programme; understaffing in the library; CBK librarians lack searching skills, do not provide personalised services and personal computers for library users were inadequate. The study recommends that: CBK library manager provide information literacy training programmes to users, continous training of librarians on new technologies, carry out a users’ assessment surrvey and bringing awareness to the users of library services. A model that can be adopted to enhance access and use of information resources is proposed.