Meeting the Challenges of a Changing Information Landscape: Experiences from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Library, Kumasi-Ghana

The internet continues to support the generation and distribution of information and knowledge. This paper takes a look at how the web technologies have been used by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology library - Kumasi, to proactively interact with its students and faculty in order to provide efficient and reliable information and knowledge sources. Suggestions have also been given on which other areas could be included to further enhance the services provided by the library to be operated more on the technological edge to meet the changing demands from its parent institution.

Article published in

International Research- Journal of Library and Information Science

Available at http://irjlis.com/meeting-challenges-changing-information-landscape/

Motivation and Performance of Librarians in Public Universities in Ghana

Motivation is of enormous importance with regard to enhancing performance in any organisation. This paper discusses motivation and performance of librarians in public universities in Ghana. The study examined motivation of librarians, the effect of motivation on performance, the views of librarians on motivation, the level of satisfaction of librarians and the effort the public university managements are making to motivate librarians. Through literature review, the concept of motivation and its effects on performance were discussed. Using a survey method, questionnaire were designed and distributed to seventy-two targeted librarians in six public universities in Ghana, out of this, sixty returned the duly completed questionnaire. The questionnaire sought to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors which motivate librarians and how it affects their performance. The study revealed that the motivational level of librarians in public universities in Ghana is high and that the motivational level affects majority of librarians positively. The public university managements have made some efforts to motivate librarians but they need to do more to improve the current situation. The study concludes with some recommendations on how to improve motivational systems in place in public university libraries. The discussions in the paper provides some insights into intrinsic and extrinsic factors that
motivate librarians in public universities in Ghana. The paper will therefore be of great value to
managers in the public university libraries in Ghana and other developing countries in getting
the best out of their staff if adequately motivated


Article published in Library Philosophy and Practice

Available at
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/911/

Academic Librarians’ Role in Maximizing Library Use in Ghana

Academic libraries are critical contributors to knowledge generation which serve a wide spectrum of knowledge seekers. They do this by providing access to knowledge which is essential for the development of the society. The mission of an academic library is focused principally on users and is driven by their needs. It involves ensuring that users are able to access all relevant information irrespective of the heterogeneity of sources and formats. In short an academic library provides services which involve delivery to the user, training in information seeking skills and organising the resources in a way that users find helpful. The challenges facing academic libraries in Ghana currently include increasing costs of materials and limited budget that reduce the amount of materials to be acquired, increasing student numbers, the trend towards student-centered learning and above all the limited infrastructure and skills necessary to access information in the digital environment. This paper assesses the challenges facing academic library users in Ghana in their bid to maximize the use of the resources at their disposal in this era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Appropriate recommendations are made and solutions to identified problems suggested to ensure optimum utilization of these resources.

Paper presented at the CULD Conference, Tamale. from 28-29 October 2010

Available at : http://dspace.knust.edu.gh:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/561 

Vision of the Future Academic Libraries in Ghana

Academic libraries in Ghana as a whole face some challenges in supporting teaching, learning, research, and knowledge dissemination. Because of a profound ongoing shift in context, however, the vision for academic libraries in Ghana will be to optimally ensure the survival of values that the library has represented in the academic sphere for its future existence. These include open access to scholarly information and cultural heritage, digitisation, service to students and scholars. Librarians also strongly need to collaborate closely not only as professionals but with partners in other areas of higher education and cognate fields. Their leadership role in information management and provision must create a coherent environment to facilitate the maximum use of scholarly information in all its forms. The future academic library will need a team of flexible experts with a variety of aptitudes and specialisations who collaborate as researchers, managers, skilled technologists, and proactive in the fulfilment of the mission of their respective universities. And there is no doubt that the future of academic libraries will be different from the one we know now. The paper makes use of literature review and attempts to make some recommendations to ensure the survival of future academic libraries as an institution to sustain their values of access to high-quality information, preservation and dissemination. It also makes a case for academic libraries to consider how to remain trusted and indispensable in a fast-evolving environment – while controlling costs.

 Paper presented at the CULD Conference, Tamale. from 28-29 October 2010


Available at   http://dspace.knust.edu.gh:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/567

Enhancing Institutional Repositories (IR) in Ghana

Academic and Research libraries in Ghana have difficulty accessing research work done in their institutions and in Ghana as a whole. This is a challenge in supporting teaching, learning, research and knowledge dissemination. Therefore, an alternative solution can be to enhance the Open Access Institutional repositories (OA- IR). The technology is currently new in Ghana with only one university hosting it. This article provides an overview of the establishment of OA- IRs in Ghana, the challenges and making a case for key decision makers to consider ways in setting up and enhancing their institutional repositories.


Article published in IFLA publication volume 153, Open Access to STM Information Trends, Models and Strategies for Libraries Edited by Katsirikou, Anthi Berlin, Boston (DE GRUYTER SAUR) 2011 Pages 105–112 eBook ISBN: 978-3-11-026374-9 Print ISBN: 978-3-11-025328-3 DOI: 10.1515/9783110263749.105

Available at

http://books.google.com.gh/books?id=De7xYKkoH_MC&pg=PA105&dq=Enhancing+Institutional+Repositories+%28IR%29+in+Ghana&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OmTEUcLCH7H07AbyvICgAw&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Enhancing%20Institutional%20Repositories%20%28IR%29%20in%20Ghana&f=false

Challenges in Setting up Open Access Institutional Repositories in Africa

A poster presented at the 14th International Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations on the 13-17 September 2011, Cape Town, South Africa.


Available at :  http://dspace.knust.edu.gh:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/1209

Promoting Effective Use of Library Resources and Services at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Library, Kumasi, Ghana

University libraries acquire print information resources such as books and journals as well as electronic information resources to support teaching, learning and research and also facilitate knowledge dissemination. This explains why various library services have been developed to promote and facilitate effective use of recorded information in all formats by users. This paper examines the resources available and services offered by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Library. The methodology used was records on files, interviews and observations. It is concluded that, in spite of library budget cuts, KNUST Library has made systematic efforts in promoting effective use of its resources by its users. It then makes recommendations to facilitate the effective and efficient use of KNUST Library resources.


Article published in Ghana Library Journal, Vol. 22, No. 22, 2010.

Also available at   http://www.ajol.info/index.php/glj/article/view/75551

For fultext :  http://dspace.knust.edu.gh:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/565