The Practice of Cataloguing and Classification in Academic Libraries: A Comparative Study of University of Ghana, University of Education, Winneba and University of Cape Coast Libraries.
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Date
2018-07
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Publisher
University Of Ghana
Abstract
The ever growing collection of information resources that has come to be associated with academic libraries has made the organization of these collections in academic libraries a crucial need. The prevalence of the practice of cataloguing and classification in academic libraries has been ascribed to the need to fulfill this fundamental need. This study sets out to investigate the practice of cataloguing and classification as it pertains in three academic libraries in Ghana with the objectives of identifying the role of this practice, assessing the level of investment in the practice as well as reveal the nature of the practice. This comparative case study, guided by the Knowledge Management Process Model, engaged thirty-one respondents involved in the practice at both the policy and operational levels through a semi structured interview, as well as an examination of policy documents and websites hosting the respective online catalogues. The study revealed among others that a predominantly online cataloguing practice is prevalent but with a relatively low investment in the practice. It was also apparent from the study that personnel of the cataloguing outfits were thoroughly aware of the role they played in the value chain of the academic library. It was again revealed that the myriad of challenges faced by the practice in the cases under review had financial connotations.
The study recommends among others, an upward adjustment in the financial allocation to this important practice with the view to mitigating the challenges faced by the practice. Again, it is proffered that the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries In Ghana bring these individual practices together to form a national practice while spearheading the drive towards the adoption of Resource Description and Access as a cataloguing standard.
Description
MPhil.
Keywords
Cataloguing, Classification, Academic Libraries