Search results

1 – 4 of 4
Per page
102050
Citations:
Loading...
Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 8 August 2016

Michael Ahenkorah-Marfo and Harry Akussah

Social media allows collaboration, participation and sharing in libraries with users. The purpose of this study is to examine the response of academic librarians in Ghana to the…

1973

Abstract

Purpose

Social media allows collaboration, participation and sharing in libraries with users. The purpose of this study is to examine the response of academic librarians in Ghana to the use of social media in reference and user services.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a quantitative study that used the Likert type of questionnaire in soliciting the views of academic librarians from six public and private universities in Ghana on their knowledge and use of social media in providing reference and user services.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that majority of academic librarians are knowledgeable and use social media for both personal and work-related purposes. They, however, lack adequate skills to use the array of social media tools to make remarkable difference in service delivery. For this reason, they find the traditional mode of service delivery a comfort zone.

Practical implications

Higher education policy makers in Ghana and elsewhere would find the results useful in decisions on the types of social media tools to use in universities and colleges.

Originality/value

The study provides in-depth analysis of the impact of social media on reference and user services in Ghanaian libraries, which is deficient in literature. It also recommends change in policy direction and training to whip up interest in librarians to use social media.

Details

Reference Services Review, vol. 44 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0090-7324

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 7 November 2016

Michael Ahenkorah-Marfo and Harry Akussah

The purpose of this research is to investigate the preparedness of academic libraries in Ghana for the use of social media in reference and user services.

1478

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the preparedness of academic libraries in Ghana for the use of social media in reference and user services.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach using interviews was used to solicit the views of Systems/reference librarians from six most highly ranked public and private universities (in Ghana) on their libraries’ preparedness for use of social media to provide reference and user services.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that most of the university libraries lacked policy on the use of social media and that though librarians held the perception that social media was useful, they lacked the competence and motivation to use social media to make a remarkable difference in service delivery.

Practical implications

Academic libraries in Ghana and elsewhere will find the results useful in formulating policies for the use of social media in libraries.

Originality/value

This qualitative approach to the study of social media deviates from the mostly quantitative studies in the literature and has brought out more revealing findings.

Details

Library Review, vol. 65 no. 8/9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 13 March 2019

Promise Ifeoma Ilo, Margaret Ngwuchukwu, Happiness Chijioke Michael-Onuoha and Chidi Segun-Adeniran

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges affecting disaster training in federal and state university libraries in Southwest Nigeria with a view to finding ways of…

446

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges affecting disaster training in federal and state university libraries in Southwest Nigeria with a view to finding ways of overcoming them.

Design/methodology/approach

Having adopted the descriptive research design, 14 university libraries (seven each of federal and state) were selected from the Southwest geo-political zone of Nigeria. The total enumeration sampling technique was employed. Questionnaire and interview methods were used for data collection. The three research questions that guided the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and ranking. Judgments were drawn using real limit of numbers and 2.50 as criterion mean.

Findings

Results emanated from the study showed that university libraries in the studied region are more equipped to fight fire disaster than any other emergency which is why fire drills and exercises are the prevailing disaster training received by library staff. It was also found that inadequate disaster facilities and equipment as well as poor funding were the greatest challenges confronting disaster training. The provision of adequate disaster facilities and equipment with the constitution of disaster prevention and response team was found as the most potent strategy for addressing the identified challenges.

Originality/value

The study lends strong empirical evidence for the underlining factors affecting disaster training in federal and state university libraries as well as academic libraries in general. The strategies for addressing the identified challenges are of more significance.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 28 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Access Restricted. View access options
Article
Publication date: 15 June 2020

Jaffer Kabir Najar and Zahid Ashraf Wani

The purpose of this study is to develop a sense of urgency and utmost care for careful disaster management to encourage disaster preparedness for museums and archives.x In…

1147

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a sense of urgency and utmost care for careful disaster management to encourage disaster preparedness for museums and archives.x In particular, this study examines the techniques and methods to be used for response and recovery from different disasters to save valuable resources.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough review of literature was done to identify existing plans, strategies, preparedness and management of archives and museums. On the basis of the knowledge and experience gained, it was decided to use a descriptive method for this study. Among the different data collection modes available in the descriptive method, the study framed a structured questionnaire for the collection of data. Thereafter, the questionnaire was tested for loopholes by conducting a pilot study. The questionnaire evolved as such was used to collect data from select archives and museums. The collected data has been tabulated and analyzed in tune with the set objectives. The findings of this study have been correlated with relevant findings and conclusions of previous studies in this domain to provide a better overview and sanctify the revelations further.

Findings

From the current study, the authors find that the topological location of most of the institutions is near or on river banks which is the cause of concern at the time of heavy rains, after heavy snow fall and at the time of floods. It was also found that the majority of these institutions are located near highways which is also a serious concern in terms of noise, smoke, dust and vibrations produced by the plying of different types of transports on these highways. These kinds of unwanted disturbances create a negative atmosphere on the holdings, visitors and staff of these institutions.Although all of the institutions have apparently strong looking buildings that are made up of good material, the matter of concern is that only one institution (SPS museum) has a building which was specifically made for the purpose. As the state of Jammu and Kashmir is politically and geographically unstable, it is found that most of the institutions are prone to disasters like floods, earthquake and bomb threats which pose a threat to these valuable institutions and their valuable holdings.The most necessary and important parameter that is the training of the staff for disaster preparedness is not provided in majority of these institutions.Despite the fact that funds for majority of these institutions are provided by the government, the funds provided are insufficient for having fool-proof disaster preparedness and management.

Research limitations/implications

Because of tremendous significance of archives and museums in propagation and preservation of historical and cultural identity of any nation, culture, ethnicity or nation state, the current study sheds light on the status of these important institutions in a very important part of Central Asia. Kashmir in past has been the cradle of knowledge evolution and sharing in the region. As such, it possesses some of the very rare manuscripts and artifacts preserved in her archives and museums.

Practical implications

As this study is limited to select archives and museums of Jammu and Kashmir, the findings of this study may or may not represent the wider region of Central Asia.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. 40 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

1 – 4 of 4
Per page
102050