The study examined the information behaviour of Mzimba prison inmates focusing on the research themes which are information needs, sources of information, and the barriers to seeking and using information of Mzimba prison inmates. A qualitative approach was used coupled with a case study design. Data were collected through focus group discussions and interviews from 12 inmates and two prison teaching staff respectively. The study found that health information, education information and spiritual information are the major information needs of Mzimba prison inmates. The study also found that the majority of respondents agreed that the six popular sources of information are their friends, teachers, radio, television, books and newspapers. However, the study concludes that Mzimba prison (library) fails to fulfil its role as a source of information and in meeting the information needs of inmates due to challenges of lack of information resources, limited time available for inmates to search for information, poor services and lack of funding for the school and library. The study recommends that the Malawi Prison Service should engage some stakeholders such as the Malawi National Library Services, National Initiative for Civic Education and Mzuzu University Library and Learning Resources Centre to support prison libraries with the provision of information resources to meet the information needs of inmates. The study further recommends that the Malawi Prison Service Command should lobby for financial support in order to hire qualified and capable librarians and teachers to manage prison libraries and schools.

中文翻译：

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马拉维监狱囚犯的信息行为

该研究调查了姆津巴监狱囚犯的信息行为，重点研究了姆津巴监狱囚犯的信息需求、信息来源以及寻求和使用信息的障碍等研究主题。定性方法与案例研究设计相结合。数据是通过焦点小组讨论和访谈分别从 12 名囚犯和两名监狱教职员工那里收集的。研究发现，健康信息、教育信息和精神信息是姆津巴监狱囚犯的主要信息需求。研究还发现，大多数受访者同意六种流行的信息来源是他们的朋友、老师、广播、电视、书籍和报纸。然而，该研究的结论是，由于缺乏信息资源、囚犯可用于搜索信息的时间有限、服务差和缺乏信息，Mzimba 监狱（图书馆）未能发挥其作为信息来源和满足囚犯信息需求的作用。为学校和图书馆提供资金。该研究建议马拉维监狱管理局应与马拉维国家图书馆服务、国家公民教育倡议和姆祖祖大学图书馆和学习资源中心等一些利益相关者合作，以支持监狱图书馆提供信息资源，以满足囚犯的信息需求.