Accessibility and Use of Library Resources in Balme Library, University Of Ghana

Abstract

The advent of information technology has led to information explosion and as such libraries are shifting from collection to access. Providing access to information has thus become the principal goal of libraries. Patrons enjoy using resources that are accessible and this is made possible by providing an enabling environment. This study attempts to evaluate accessibility and use of library resources in Balme Library, University of Ghana, Legon and to profile some suggestions to improve accessibility and use. Using the survey method, the researcher administered questionnaires to Level 400 students of the Department of Information Studies and the staff of Balme Library to elicit information from them. The findings indicated that the information literacy skills provided in Balme Library was not adequate enough to enable users make effective use of the resources. The study revealed that formats of documents such as audiovisua1 materials were not adequate. Furthermore, the study revealed that accessibility was hindered by mis-shelving; miscatalouguing; invisible call numbers; low bandwidth; inadequate information literacy skills; and inadequate workstations/computers. However, it was found that most of the users made use of the Online Public Access Catalogue hence justifying the huge surn of money spent on automation. It was also discovered that the existing enabling environment in the library was not conducive enough. To resolve the findings, several recommendations were advanced to improve accessibility and use of the resources in the Balme Library. Some of these recommendations are as follows: provision of adequate literacy skills; more workstations/computers; better staff strength through training; internet connectivity on campus to enable 'anytime and anywhere' access to Balme Library Online Public Access Catalogue(OPAC)