1 25 2 https://ir.zou.ac.zw/files/original/e1def4736597c723bb21a7ee2b9d6e6e.pdf 25bd86461ae5b3b6c18f75e34158d223 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Staff Publications Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource EQUITY ON INFORMATION ACCESS OF LIBRARY SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH SENSORY DISABILITIES AT SELECTED UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN HARARE, ZIMBABWE Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource KUDZAYI CHIWANZA ARIEL MUVHUNZWI Description An account of the resource This study examines equity of information access for students with sensory disabilities relating to visual and hearing impairments at university libraries in Harare, Zimbabwe, identifying barriers and opportunities for inclusive library services. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating surveys, interviews and observational assessments across three major university libraries: University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Open University, and Midlands State University (Harare Campus). The study involved 35 students with sensory disabilities, 15 library staff members and accessibility audits of physical and digital library environments. Findings reveal significant inequities in information access, with physical inaccessibility of libraries, lack of infrastructure to support assistive technologies, and inadequately trained staff being primary barriers. Digital accessibility gaps were particularly pronounced, with navigation difficulties, incompatibility with access tools and inadequate labelling of links preventing effective use of online resources. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between assistive technology availability and staff knowledge (r = .65, p < .01), and strong negative correlations between accessibility improvements and academic challenges (r = –.60, p < .01). The study provides actionable recommendations for university administrators and librarians to improve accessibility and ensure equitable information access. This is the first comprehensive study examining sensory disability accessibility across multiple university libraries in Zimbabwe, contributing to limited African literature on this topic. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Zimbabwe Open University Journal of Applied Social Sciences Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2026 accessibility inclusive education Information equity sensory disabilities university libraries Zimbabwe https://ir.zou.ac.zw/files/original/15ec22e6de448b46143ad85fd3824eec.pdf 6d23a928495f39a64dbc0e87a32122a8 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Staff Publications Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A PARADOX: LIBRARY SCHOLARS NOT USING THE LIBRARY ELECTRONIC RESOURCE Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource NOMATER MAKOZHO MTHOKOZISI MASUMBIKA NCUBE Description An account of the resource The advent of electronic resources in university circles towards the end of the 20th century ushered a novel and fresh landmark for library patrons, as such resources offered timely and current sources of information. The Zimbabwe Open University Library also embraced such an innovation by providing varied electronic resources to its patrons. Information scholars within the university were, thus, expected to take a leading role in accessing and using such resources as it is within their scope and domain of study. However, contrary to such anticipation, their access and usage is low, disappointing, and fragmented. Therefore, the premise of this study was to investigate the reasons behind such low usage of electronic resources by these students through a case of the Zimbabwe Open University Midlands Regional Campus Library. Using the qualitative methodology, the study employed a multimethod approach. Expert and captive sampling techniques were used to select library staff members and students respectively. The study found that students in the Department of Library and Information Science mostly preferred the use of Google, the university modules, and social media platform as the major information sources. The study found that electronic resources offered through the library’s website were one of the list preferred information sources because of varied reasons, which included the website not opening, download delays, power outages in the library, digital illiteracy, information overload, complicated user interface and logging challenges. As a way forward, there are several ways of enhancing the usage of such resources, which include increasing the library’ bandwidth, regular update of the website, installation of uninterrupted power supply (UPS), provision of further information literacy training and advertising the electronic resources by the library. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Electronic resource electronic resources usage information science scholars Open and Distance Leaning university university libraries