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Item Capacity building modules for public libraries to support small-scale business enterprises in Meru County, Kenya(South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 2017) Gichohi, Paul M.; Onyancha, Omwoyo B.; Dulle, Frankwell W.The lack of well-structured capacity building programmes is a serious drawback to the effective development of small-scale business enterprises (SBEs) in Kenya. Public libraries as community information centres can collaborate with other stakeholders in facilitating the required skills. This study investigated the training needs of SBE traders and public library staff with the aim of proposing capacity building modules that can be considered by public libraries in Meru County, Kenya in their endeavour to support the SBEs. In implementing the study, a mixed methods approach was used and the survey research design adopted. Cluster and systematic sampling techniques were used in getting 355 SBE traders while census was used on twenty-one library staff and on two staff from Meru County government. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the required data. The response rate was 83.4% and 95% for SBE traders and public library staff respectively. Descriptive statistics and thematic techniques were used to analyse the data. We used the findings of this study and the scholarly insights from previous studies to propose two sets of capacity building modules: for SBE traders and for the public library staff. The training areas comprise business information literacy, technology competency, and nature of information in the business domain. We recommend the adoption of the proposed modules in public libraries in Kenya in elevating support and value contribution in the development of the small business community. We further recommend a training policy for SBEs and the recruitment of experienced, skilled and knowledgeable business librarians.Item How public libraries in Meru County, Kenya, address the business information needs of small-scale enterprises.(journals.sagepub, 2016) Gichohi, Paul M.; Onyancha, Omwoyo B.; Dulle, Frankwell W.The purpose of the study was to explore how public libraries in Meru County, Kenya, address the informationneeds of small-scale business enterprises (SBEs) in the region. It was carried out from 2013 to 2015. A quanti-tative approach and survey research design were adopted to collect data from SBE traders and staff from threepublic libraries in Meru County. The study found that the business information needs of SBEs are myriad, sector-specific and cut across all stages of business development. These needs are fulfilled by consulting informalinformation resources and places. The few SBEs traders who were using public libraries for business informationexpressed high levels of satisfaction. The study concludes that public libraries have facilitative and functional rolesof providing business information to SBEs by collaborating with like-minded stakeholders. The study recommendssymmetrical dissemination of business information and the re-positioning of public libraries as communitydevelopment centers by providing value-based and sector-specific business information solutions.