Browsing by Author "Alemna, A.A."

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The academic and research librarian in the 21st century
(CULD, 2012) Alemna, A.A.; Entsua-Mensah, C.; Antwi, I.K.
This paper is of the view that with the accelerated development in information and communication technology, the 21st century is an exciting time for academic librarians. However, this can only be achieved under certain conditions such as: the need to embrace change; the ability to keep up with ICT; marketing of library services; project management, among others. Library and information schools must also play new roles. Otherwise, academic libraries may become marginalized and redundant
The Academic and Research Librarian of the 21st Century
(CULD Proceedings, 2012) Alemna, A.A.
This paper is of the view that with the accelerated development in information and communication technology, the 21st century is an exciting time for academic librarians. However, this can only be achieved under certain conditions such as: the need to embrace change; the ability to keep up with ICT; marketing of library services; project management, among others. Library and information schools must also play new roles. Otherwise, academic libraries may become marginalized and redundant
Access to and use of export market information by non-traditional commodity exporters in Ghana
(African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 2009-01) Afenyo, V.K.; Alemna, A.A.
Ghana has traditionally depended on a number of export commodities such as cocoa, timber, gold and diamonds for its economic and social development. Recent economic policies of government have aimed to expand the country's exports to include non-traditional exports such as horticultural products, textiles, fishery products, wood products and handicrafts. Growth in exports depends on both domestic factors, such as the quality, quantity and cost of production of the commodities, as well as conditions in the export markets. It was in that context that this paper analysed the nature of access to and use of export market information b y non-traditional commodity exporters in Ghana. A mail questionnaire was used to collect organisational-level perception and activity information concerning export market information from forty non-traditional commodity exporting firms in Ghana. The study found that 32 (87%) of the firms sought information from diverse sources concerning foreign markets, although the information was mostly obtained from institutions and organisations. The types of market information sought included prices of product; consumer tastes and preferences; export logistics and facilities; political issues; and customs procedures. The study recommended specific roles in the dissemination and provision of access to export information for the Ghana Export Promotion Council, and for public, community and academic libraries and trade associations in Ghana.
Accessibility and Utilization of Scholarly Electronic Journals by the Academic Staff of Garden City University College, Kumasi and Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana
(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Boakye, E.; Alemna, A.A.; Ankrah, E.; University of Ghana, College of Education, School of Information and Communication Studies, Department of Information Studies
Developments in the field of information technology have led to a great change in the collection development and service structure of libraries. In recent times, libraries, especially academic libraries, are not only seen with print and non-print resources but also with scholarly electronic journals. Scholarly electronic journals in reality have become one of the most used technological innovations in modern times and also the backbone of many academic institutions. The main focus of the study was to compare awareness, accessibility and utilization of scholarly electronic journals by the academic staff of Garden City University College (GCUC) and Christian Service University College (CSUC), Kumasi. The study also sought to determine factors affecting electronic journal usage and limitations in accessing and using scholarly electronic journals. The survey method was used and questionnaire was also used as the main instrument. The entire population of one hundred and eighty-seven (187) was used. The findings revealed low awareness and accessibility levels as well as under-utilization of scholarly electronic journals in both university colleges. No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and usage of scholarly electronic journals at a p-value of 0.354 which is greater than the significant level of 0.05. No statistically significant relationship was found between age and usage of scholarly electronic journals at a p-value of 7.159 which is greater than the significant level of 0.05. No statistically significant relationship was found between other factors including differences in discipline, educational level, computer skills and age at a p-value of 7.159, 5.308, and 0.504 respectively which are all greater than the significant level of 0.05. However, a statistically significant relationship was found between awareness and usage of electronic journals. The study recommends awareness creation, training, provision of more relevant electronic journals, infrastructure, quality staff and sustenance to ensure maximum access and use of scholarly electronic journals in GCUC and CSUC and also to commensurate the investment made in them.
Acquisitions and collection development education in Ghana
(Library Acquisitions: Practice & Theory, 1990-12) Alemna, A.A.
This paper provides an evaluation of education and training for library collection development in Ghana. It presents a brief history of education in Ghana with particular reference to library education. The program of the Department of Library and Archival Studies at the University of Ghana is discussed with regard to course levels and course structure. The syllabus for the course in acquisi- tions/collection development is also discussed, and various problems faced by teachers and students of this course are highlighted. It is concluded that although students find the course interesting and valuable, problems such as lack of audi- ovisual materials for teaching and inadequate reading materials for the students must be solved in order to increase the usefulness of the course.
African Journals and their Use in African Universities: some conclusions
(The African Book Publishing Record, 2009-10-12) Alemna, A.A.; Chiefwepa, V.; Rosenberg, D.
Over a period of three years, 1996 to 1998, a survey was carried out in two African universities, those of Ghana (UGL) and Zambia (UNZA),of the use made of African published scholarly journals by academics and researchers. During the last decade there have been a number of projects which have assisted the publication, marketing and distribution of African journals with the ultimate aim of aim improving the quality and quality of research taking place in Africa ,through the provision of reliable and regular intra-African channels of communication . But there is very little information available on the use that is being made of those journals and their impact on research. Such information as there is tends to indicate that African academics do not show any special interest in African -published materials and do not consider them vital for teaching and research. The study
African journals: An evaluation of their use in African universities
(African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 1999-01) Alemna, A.A.; Chifwepa, V.; Rosenberg, D.
This study was commissioned by the Overseas Development Administration (subsequently re-named Department for International Development) in January 1996, as a follow-up to the 1994 pilot project of the African Journals Distribution Programme. Data was collected each year for a period of three years, 1996 to 1998, on the use made of African-published journals in two universities in Africa. Co-ordination, design of common data collection instruments and data analysis were undertaken by the International African Institute. In April 1999, the co-ordinator and two local researchers met in London to discuss the findings. This report is the result of that meeting.
Analysis of Doctoral Thesis Citation Patterns: A Case Study of the Sam Jonah Library, Ghana
( Library Philosophy and Practice, 2018-01) Imoro, O.; Alemna, A.A.; Kumah, M.A.
The use of bibliometrics as an essential tool for collection development is well acknowledged by many researchers because it employs quantitative methods when seeking to measure and assess the output of scientific publications. A quantitative evaluation of publications and citations can be beneficial for effective collection development. The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the citation patterns in the PhD dissertations submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cape Coast between 2005 and 2016. A total of 35 PhD theses were submitted within this time period and were obtained from the Africana section of the Sam Jonah Library. The reference section from each thesis was photocopied and manually examined. Overall, 6,458 citations were analysed. Journal articles were the most cited publications, followed by books, reports and web resources. The findings also showed that a majority (73.3%) of the journals cited by PhD students could be accessed through Sam Jonah Library’s subscribed online databases. The study concludes that although the use of these databases is high among PhD students, there is a need for greater awareness and training in the use of these databases.
An Analytical Study of Masters Dissertations on the Balme Library, University of Ghana, Legon
(African Journal of Library, Archives & Information Science, 2006-10) Fosu, V.K.; Alemna, A.A.
This paper analyses masters dissertations written on the Balme Library, University of Ghana by students of the Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana fram 1998-2005, with a view to ascertaining how the management of Balme Library has implemented the recommendations from the dissertations. The analysis takes the form of the type and year of dissertation, subject of dissertation, and whether written by Balme Library staff or not. The findings indicate that most of the recommendations in the dissertations have not been implemented by the library. One of the reasons for this is that the Balme Library did not even know of the findings and recommendations. Some suggestions have been made to overcome this problem, including the need for staff of the Balme Library to supervise some of such dissertations or, failing this, and/or the need for the management of the library to, at least, be made aware of studies and recommendations relating to the Balme Library.
A bibliometric analysis of theses at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon
(Library Philosophy and Practice, 2019-05-15) Alemna, A.A.; Bilson, A.P.K.E; Badu, E.E.
The purpose of the study was to analyse the Master of Philosophy and the Doctor of Philosophy theses publications by postgraduate students at the School of Nuclear and Allied Science (SNAS), University of Ghana from (2008 - 2016) using the INIS database as the source of data. The study used the bibliometric method. The purposive sampling technique was used to retrieve four hundred and fourteen (414) theses records from a population of five hundred and thirty eight (538) theses records published in Ghana. The International Nuclear Information System (INIS) database and the search query language (country:Ghana AND recordtype:Thesis/Dissertation) were the main instruments used in retrieving the data before extracting them onto Microsoft excel spreadsheet for analysis. The major findings of the study revealed that the yearly publication trend of graduate student theses at SNAS showed a constant rise and fall in the number of theses published over the period. There was also a big gender gap with male students dominating their female counterparts with (300 or 79.71%) counts. The most frequently used keyword assigned by the indexer (subject specialist) was radiation protection with (189) counts. It is recommended that SNAS should gain autonomy from the University of Ghana, the parent University as it will enable it to run its academic programs by itself, take decisions that will benefit its smooth running and management in the long run and also help to accelerate the plans already in place for a nuclear power plant to be added to the energy mix for Ghana.
Bookselling and the library: a partnership for enhancing the book trade in Ghana
(African Research and Documentation, 2000) Alemna, A.A.
This paper first describes the types of booksellers in Ghana: the street hawkers, the small or one-man booksellers, the giant booksellers, and the university booksellers. It gives attention to their problems, in the first place the low level of literacy in the country, but also the poor reading habits of the educated minority, the lack of means of students, and lack of funds for acquisition in libraries. Yet the future of bookselling in Ghana does not appear gloomy. An effective partnership between booksellers and libraries can help in promoting the book trade
Career development: follow-up studies of former graduate students of the Deparment of Library and Archival Studies University of Ghana, 1991/1992 to 1996/1997
(Education for information, 1999-01) Alemna, A.A.
This forms the concluding part of studies carried out by the Department of Library and Archival Studies, University of Ghana on the professional careers and activities of graduates of its Graduate-Diploma programme. As far as possible, the findings are compared with results of the earlier studies.
Cataloguing and classification practices in Ghanaian Libraries
(1989) Alemna, A.A.
This is a survey of the cataloguing practices of ten major libraries in Ghana. It concentrates among others, on the cataloguing and classification schemes used in the libraries, local adaptations, description of catalogue entries, the maintenance of card catalogues, and staffing. Various problems encountered in the Technical Services Departments are examined, and suggestions are made towards the improvement of cataloguing practices in the country's library system
Cataloguing of Ghanaian names: problems and possible solutions
(Libri, 1984) Antwi, I.K.; Alemna, A.A.
There are not less than 50 indigenous languages and dialects in Ghana. Languages follow tribal divisions and although English is the national language, there are other important languages such Twi, Dagbani, Ewe and Ga. These follow the major tribes of Akan, MoIe-Dagbani, Ewe and Ga respectively. Fortunately, the diversity of tribes and language has been kept under control, largely, as a result of imaginative governmental policies over many decades, and it is possible to speak of a single national consciousness embracing, all the diverse elements with their varied traditions and cultures. Even so, a distinction can be made between the southern people on the one hand, who have come most directly and longest under the influence of modem European life and the Christian religion, and the northern people on the other hand, whose traditional modes of life and religion have under gone relatively little change. Even among the southern people, there are significant disparities, the Akan group dominating all the rest in size and extent. it will be interesting to note that despite the fact that majority of the tribes and languages are found in the northern part of the country, the problems with names are more predominant in the southern part than the northern part
CD-ROM in Ghanaian libraries: a survey
(Information development, 1996-06) Alemna, A.A.
Summarizes the main findings of a survey of the availability and use of CD-ROM services in three Ghanaian libraries : the National Science and Technology Library and Information Centre (NASTLIC) at the Ghana Science and Technology Information Network (GHASTINET); the University of Ghana Medical School Library; and the Balme Library of the University of Ghana. The survey found that all the CD-ROM facilities are on open access; that no library is charging fees for CD-ROM use at present; and that users are very satisfied with CD-ROM services. Presents recommendations for future development of CD-ROM services in Ghanaian libraries.
Challenges and Prospects of Consortia: a Case Study of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH)
(2011) Dzandza, P.; Alemna, A.A.
This study sought to find out the prospects and challenges of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH). Questionnaires were sent to 18 members of the consor¬tium and 15 were retrieved, giving a response rate of 83%. The results indicated that members enjoy access to electronic resources at reduced cost, free training workshops and seminars, and technical support in the use of electronic resources. However, there were challenges such as foreign exchange problems, inability to obtain full access to some databases, and difficulties in dealing with publishers. Some recommendations have been made to enhance the prospects of the consortium.
Characteristics and careers of past post-graduate diploma students of the Department of Library and Archival Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, 1981/82–1987/88
(Education for Information, 1991-01) Alemna, A.A.
This paper summarises the findings of a survey of the careers and characteristics of past postgraduate diploma students of the Department of Library and Archival Studies, University of Ghana between 1981/82 and 1987/88. It examines issues such as their sex; how they came to choose the profession; what jobs they were doing before enrolling at the library school; job mobility; job satisfaction; and the relevance of the courses at the Department to their present employment and activities. Among the findings are that the Department has produced more males than females; the highest number of graduates are found in special libraries; and most the graduates complained about the theoretical bias of the courses in the Department.
Collection development in African libraries: the bibliography problem
(Collection management, 1991) Alemna, A.A.
Often when collection development in African libraries is under discussion, emphasis is placed on problems concerning such matters as acquisition budgets, staffing and the book industry. Little is said about problems of bibliography. The aim of this paper is to focus attention on the importance of adequate bibliographies in the development of collections in African libraries. Issues such as lack of comprehensive bibliographies, inadequate infrastructure for producing bibliographies and ineffective legal deposit laws are discussed. An attempt is made to suggest solutions to some of the problems. Among these are the setting up of regional documentation centres, the maintenance of union catalogues and the publication of current and retrospective national bibliographies
Collection development in university libraries in Ghana: some observations
(Collection Building, 1990-12) Alemna, A.A.
T here are now three Universities in Gha- na with a total enrollment of about 10,000 students. The oldest and larg- est is the University of Ghana, Legon, which was established in 1948 as a University College preparing students for the de- grees of the University of London. The University of Science and Technology at Kumasi was the second to be established in the country. It started as a College of Technology in 1951 and was raised to University status in 1961. The University of Cape Coast came into being in 1962, mainly to produce graduate teachers for expanding second- ary schools and teacher-training colleges. All the universities have libraries which provide services to faculty members, scholars and students. The number of books allowed to be borrowed, howev- er, depends on the status of the user, with faculty members having more privileges than students at all the universities. In most developed countries students and lec- turers have other libraries (special, school, and public) at their disposal in addition to their univer- sity libraries, however, in Ghana the situation is different. Besides the scarcity of bookshops, stu- dents are also hampered by poor services in the public libraries 1 and inadequate facilities in the special libraries. 2 As in other African countries, students are nor- mally expected to buy the basic textbooks needed for their courses. 3 A majority of the students in Ghana are poor and cannot afford to do so. Al- though students are given loans for their text- books, the amount is too small. Consequently, the university libraries are forced to take on the re- sponsibilities of other libraries, as well as satisfy- ing the library needs of their community. Mem- bers of communities outside the university who would normally use school, special, or public libraries all have to turn to the university libraries for help. The policy of all university libraries in Ghana is to provide adequate library materials to support and reinforce new undergraduate courses, gradu- ate programs, and the teaching staff. Acquisition of library materials in university libraries has been governed by the needs of the particular university being served. This has led to a wide disparity in the volume of books for students and the rate of annual growth of library materials. Certainly, a status study of collection development in Ghana's university libraries is essential before consistent standards can be properly advocated.
Continuing education for librarians in Ghana: problems and expectations
(IFLA journal, 1991-10) Alemna, A.A.
Continuing education has been given various interpretations depending on the context in which it is used. For the purpose of this paper, Continuing education is used to donate attendants of conferences, workshops, seminars, and short courses. which may have a variety of objectives, they may be refresher courses, exchange of experiences courses or post experiences courses. in this paper, Continuing education excludes formal certificates or degree awarding education