Digitising university libraries in Ghana: how technology is facilitating access to digital content and services

Abstract

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.