Satellites, Microsoft, and BASIC, Oh-my! Collection development in computer science and engineering in Sub-Saharan Afric

1. Satellites, Microsoft, and BASIC, Oh-my! Collection development in computer science and engineering in Sub-Saharan Africa. Abstract By invitation, the author visited Africa University near Mutare, Zimbabwe, for the purpose of mentoring the current science and technology librarian, and to provide technical expertise regarding computer science and engineering works. Africa University is an ecumenically supported private university. The Jokomo/Yamada library is a fully modern library as we conceive of science and engineering libraries in the United States, yet it faces challenges due to culture, economics, and location that few university libraries in the United States can claim. The experience gave the author new insight into the life cycle of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) information, the role of professional information providers in university success, and the difficulties posed by the absence of “givens” such as reliable internet access. The collection development process was complicated by primary acquisition via book donation programs, infrastructure problems, complications associated with technology “leap-frogging” and differences in librarian education. Background The Jokomo\Yamada library has been receiving used computer science and computer language texts for much of the last fifteen years. However, in Fall 2006, the brand new Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems enrolled its first class. In support of this degree, I traveled to Africa University with the aim of creating a usable library collection from those texts that the Jokomo\Yamada library already possessed. The development of the computer science collection was disjointed in that the currency of the collection did not match the currency of the technologies that students were learning in the computer lab. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided nearly 100 computers to equip the new computer science department as well as the newly built general university computer labs. These had state of the art equipment, including projectors, smart boards, and the latest software. The existing collections, both cataloged and uncatalogued, were insufficient to support the newly formed department. (Mutula 2005) Most of the works were dated from pre-2001, and were written prior to Windows ME, much less Windows 2003, the operating system installed in the labs. Due to skyrocketing inflation in Zimbabwe (around 2000% as of May 2007), the book budget of the Africa University library can not cover the cost of the needed materials for the new department (Akkinigbagbe 2000). On the other end of the spectrum is the problem of the life cycle of computer technology. In the US and other developed nations, computer science works are frequently selected and deselected based upon the currency of the programming language or computer program. A major difference in collection development for the Jokomo\Yamada Library collection is that programs or technology considered long out of date in the developed world are still in use and even currently in implementation in developing countries (Arkaifie 1998). Equipment in offices and factories often predates the majority of the technology used in the developed world. Just as books get donated to Africa University when they are no longer needed (i.e. when they are superseded), computers and other electronic equipment gets rebuilt and sent to developing countries frequently. As the graduating students of the Computer Information Systems program enter the work force, they will frequently be asked to repair equipment and to program in languages that US libraries would consider irrelevant and deselect or at least stop selecting. Given this situation, a policy of keeping at least one book for each programming language represented in the un-catalogued books and catalogued collection was formulated. The head of the Computer Information Systems program and Judith Nzara, the technology librarian saw the collection as a practical collection, meant to allow students to teach themselves any language or equipment should the need arise. The result of this was a collection that was non-standard by developed world terms. There was little representation for current technologies, while the bulk of the collection were made up of languages such as BASIC, ADA, Fortran, and even WordPerfect and other software that is now obsolete. This experience and secondary research regarding science libraries in developing countries lead me to develop a new model to reflect the differences in the usage and transmission of STEM information. Lifecycle of STEM resources – A global look References: Aina, L.O. (1999). “The problems of tertiary publishing in Africa and implications for the training and education of library and information professionals”. Library Review. 48:8; pg. 399. Akinnigbagbe, B.M. (2000). “The effect of the economic environment on collection development.” Public Library Quarterly. 18:2, pg. 49. Arkaifie, Richard. (1998). “Donation of books to libraries: bane or blessing – the University of Cape Coast’s experience.” Education Libraries Journal 41:3, p. 12, 15. Arunachalam, Subbiah. (2003). “Information for research in developing countries – information technology, a friend or foe?” International Information and Library Review 35, p. 135. Brooks, Sam et al. (2005). “Developing nations, the digital divide and research databases.” Serials Review 31:4, p. 271-272. Dahdouh-Guebas, Farid et al. (2003). “Neo-colonial science by the most industrialized upon the least developed countries to peer reviewed publishing.” Scientometrics 56:3, p. 334. Duque, Ricardo et al. (2005). “Collaboration paradox: scientific productivity, the Internet, and problems of research in developing areas.” Social Studies of Science 35:5, p. 777. Kent, Allen. (1979). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science. (Vol. 26). New York: Marcel Dekker. Mutula, Stephen. (2005). “Peculiarities of the digital divide in sub-Saharan Africa.” Program: electronic library and information systems. 39:2, p. 129. Smart, Pippa. (2004). “Two-way traffic: information exchange between the developing and developed world.” Serials. 17:2, p. 184. University of Washington Libraries. (1999). The Scientific Publication Cycle. Retrieved June 5, 2007 from: http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/environment/imt220/pubcycle.jpg. Megan Sapp Nelson, Assistant Professor, Purdue University Libraries, West Lafayette, IN msn@purdue.edu