Social media and professional networking: a case of information professionals in the SCECSAL region

Chisenga, Justin and Chande-Mallya, Rehema Social media and professional networking: a case of information professionals in the SCECSAL region., 2012 . In XXth Standing Conference of Eastern, Cemtral and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL), Nairobi, Kenya, 4-8 June 2012. [Conference paper]

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English abstract

The purpose of the study was to establish the extent to which library and information professionals in the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) region are using social media applications for professional networking. The findings show that although the professionals are adopting social media applications, its use is more for social networking than professional networking purposes. Among those using the applications for professional networking, Social Networking Services (i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and MySpace) are their first choice applications; with Facebook being the most popular. They study also revealed that most of the professionals had taught themselves how to use social media. The major challenge faced in the use of social media was the lack of time in the effective use of the applications. The paper recommends that to enhance the use of social media for professional networking, social media must be integrated into individual networking activities and that library and information professionals and associations in the region should embrace social media applications.

Item type: Conference paper
Keywords: social media, scecsal, information professionals, web 2.0, africa
Subjects: G. Industry, profession and education. > GZ. None of these, but in this section.
Depositing user: Dr Justin Chisenga
Date deposited: 02 Apr 2013 08:10
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:25
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/18920

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