A DIGITAL LIBRARY IN A RURAL MALARIA RESEARCHCENTRE IN AFRICA: THE KENYAN EXPERIENCE

摘要

Medical libraries play a key role in data and information management in medi-cal research and healthcare. The rapidly changing information technology has enhanced the management process, enabling availability of a plethora of publi-cations online globally. However, the widespread use of information technology is seldom realized in developing countries. The overall aim of this study was to evaluate and discuss lessons learnt in setting up a hybrid library in a medical research institution. This was a retrospective study in a busy medical research hospital in Kenya. Two library information management (manual and digital) models were evaluated. The evaluation of information management tools involved medical records, virtual libraries, registers, communication, network and online search systems. User sensitization in change management was not a trivial event. The pace of digitalization of medical libraries in devel-oping countries is slow due to lack of appropriate staff skills, unaffordable cost of information technology and communication (ICT) facilities. However, col-laborations with medical research agencies abroad have enabled the transfer of tremendously improved ICT at medical libraries and research institutions as a whole. The available library request and pediatric admissions data demonstrate the existence of correlation between the monthly requests and admissions. More requests are observed during the high admission periods across the year.