Browsing by Author "Van der Walt, T."
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Item Access and use of digital resources: a survey of their value for faulty in three Ghanaian universities(Libri,, 2015) Dadzie, P.S.; Van der Walt, T.This paper is culled from a doctoral study that investigated the development and management of digital libraries in selected academic libraries in Ghana. In this article, the authors report on the value that faculty members place on access to and use of digital resources and their implications for library services in three Ghanaian universities. The survey method was used to administer a structured questionnaire to 230 faculty members. Using convenience sampling, 10% of faculty were selected from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Cape Coast. Univariate and bivariate analyses were done to construct frequencies and establish relationships among respondents. Findings showed that less than half of the faculty members were aware of and used digital resources such as the online databases, institutional repositories, the library’s website and the online public access catalogue (OPAC). Nevertheless, the impact of the resources on them was very positive. The study recommended the need for university librarians to interact with faculty during orientation sessions for new faculty as well as new heads of departments. Additionally, subject librarians should work closely with departmental heads to be allocated periods for presentation on available digital resources, their usefulness for their own career enhancement and for their teaching role. The underlying implications of this study show that more advocacies are required from university libraries to enhance the use of digital resources.Item Career progression of female librarians in public university libraries in Ghana(Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2017-12) Akpebu Adjah, O.; Van der Walt, T.The growing interest in gender issues and female employment has generated a number of studies and the library and information profession has not been excluded from this interest in promoting female equality in employment. This study investigates the career patterns of practising professional female librarians in six selected public university libraries in Ghana, in order to establish the enhancers and inhibitors they experience in their career progression. The study, conducted with a survey method, adopted the use of self-administered questionnaires for data collection. Quantitative data gathered from the 128 librarians were analysed to report on descriptive characteristics of respondents, while qualitative data, from open-ended questions, were analysed, using the narrative analysis technique, to present a profile of respondents and their career histories. The findings reveal females in the study were unable to meet requirements for promotion in their various public university libraries, which has resulted in very slow progress in their careers and even stagnated careers. The study concludes by recommending that there should be a career development support system for females, to help them overcome barriers to advancement in university librariesItem Digitising university libraries in Ghana: how technology is facilitating access to digital content and services(Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies 33(3):95-114, 2015) Dadzie, P.S.; Van der Walt, T.The study investigates the extent to which technological advances are affecting the development of digital libraries in universities in Ghana. Using the case study approach, interviews were conducted with university librarians and information technology (IT) officers of three public universities in Ghana. In all, six staff members (i.e., two representatives each from the three libraries at the University of Ghana (UG), the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University of Cape Coast (UCC)) were interviewed. Their views on the available information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure which would enable access to digital content and services, such as online databases, institutional repositories, online public access catalogues (OPACs) and World Wide Web (www) resources, were obtained. The findings revealed that all three universities have the basic ICT infrastructure to enable users to access digital content. However, there was restricted access to the OPAC; lack of visibility of the library website; and inadequate use of Web 2.0 tools in some of the libraries. Therefore, the study recommends the hiring of more multi-skilled librarians who would provide the necessary support for digital resources and services.Item Planning for digitization of university libraries in Ghana: challenges and prospects.(Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)., 2015) Dadzie, P.S.; Van der Walt, T.The study investigates the availability of strategic plans or policies for the development of digital libraries in selected universities in Ghana. A case study approach was adopted and interviews were held with three university librarians to determine their views on planning and budgeting for digitization. The findings reveal that all three university libraries have strategic plans, though some are outdated and therefore, rely on policies to ensure that digitization activities are enhanced. Budgetary support for digitization activities range from 16.6% - 50% of the total library budget. The study recommends that the libraries should have an up-to-date strategic plan which includes a specific mission and vision with regard to digital libraries and digitalized resources. They should also consider income-generating activities such as renting portions of their premises for workshops, conferences, exhibitions and seminars which would boost the budgetary support of libraries. This is one of the few articles which examines digitization from a cross section of university libraries in GhanaItem Re-Creating The Academic Library Space In Digital Learning Environments(Journal of Access Services, 2022) Owusu-Ansah, S.; Van der Walt, T.; Danquah Mensah, M.Abstract Academic libraries have long been an important part of learning experiences in higher education and are not excluded from the threat of technology. Therefore, library management must be more strategic by aligning with the new teaching and learning preference styles. Following the use of an interview schedule and questionnaire for primary data collection, the Case study explores academic libraries’ buildings and spaces to better aligned with the current academic needs of users in higher learning institutions. Our findings show that university libraries repurpose their library spaces to provide electronic-based information and learning resources, information technologies, working environments for different types of learning, digital reference services, information literacy skills, library services and resources at any time. In conclusion, the academic needs of users could be re-examined based on the hierarchy of user needs. Our paper recommends libraries recreate library spaces and library services to accommodate academic needs as well as discover new ways to approach users. Keywords: academic library, learning spaces, digital age, recreating, inclusive library, Ghana.Item Student’s assessment of Balme Library’s use of information technology in providing quick and efficient library services(SA Jnl Libs & Info Sci, 2022) Afrane, D.A.; Van der Walt, T.; Donkor, A.B.An academic library operates primarily in a university, college, or polytechnic to provide content, materials, and resources, both print and electronic, to assist with teaching, research, and recreation of the university community. Users of academic libraries possess different levels of skills and expertise and have varying expectations of information technologies used in their academic discourse. This study sought to identify the level of accessibility and availability of information technologies to users in the Balme Library as well as their skills and abilities in the use of IT. It also sought to determine if a relationship exists between the accessibility of information technology tools and facilities available in the library and learning and research outcomes of users. The positivist approach to enquiry was employed in this study. Questionnaires were used in collecting data from undergraduate and postgraduate users of the Balme library of the University of Ghana. Findings from the study revealed a significant positive relationship between the accessibility and availability of IT resources and learning and research outcomes.