Information seeking behavior of the off-campus students at the University of Botswana: a case of two satellite centers

Abstract

The focus of this study is on the information-seeking behavior of the off-campus students in 2 of the 7 satellite centers of the Centre for Continuing Education, the outreach arm of the University of Botswana. Although the university deeply committed itself to the project, the university library could not afford to establish branch libraries in all the off-campus centers. With the nearest university branch libraries located some 160 km and 200 km away from the centers of study and only branch offices of the public library available, the findings revealed that the library and information needs of the students were not significantly met. As printed sources were revealed as their preferred choice of information format, e-mail and the Internet sources were not given much priority, even though there was evidence that suggests the students were adequately equipped through the teaching of information skills. Questionnaire and interview tools were used.