Browsing by Author "Afrane, Daniel Akwasi"

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Application of AI in Academic Library Services: Prospects and Implications for Quality Service Delivery
(IGI Global, 2023-08) Donkor, Antonia Bernadette; Afrane, Daniel Akwasi
Academic libraries are mandated to support the information needs of their students, staff, and faculty. In the current technological environment and the influx of artificial intelligence technology into services provision and delivery, this study assessed the knowledge and perception of librarians on the use of AI in library services provision in Ghana. The population for the study consisted of librarians from all 15 public universities in Ghana. Findings from the study revealed that the librarians were knowledgeable of the emergence of AI and sources their information on AI mainly from research articles. It was also revealed that educational level had a significant positive (r= 0.3, p<0.01) relationship with the sources of knowledge on AI tools and applications. There was a positive significant relationship (r= 0.533, p<0.01) between educational level and the frequency of knowledge acquisition on the application of AI in academic library services provision. Academic libraries are encouraged to invest in AI tools and applications to leverage their advantages.
Libraries for Tomorrow: The Use of ICT and Space Transformation in Some Academic Libraries in Ghana
(Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies, 2022-09-06) Afrane, Daniel Akwasi; Donkor, Antonia Bernadette; Yamson, George Clifford
The aim of this study was to examine transformations in academic library spaces in Ghana. A quantitative approach was adopted for this study. Data was collected using Google Forms. A total of 98 librarians from five academic libraries in Ghana, which represents less than 10% of all librarians in academic libraries in Ghana, participated in the study. The data collected was analysed using R4.0 programming software and is presented using charts and tables. Eighty-one per cent (81%) of the participants agreed that their libraries were moving from “book-centred” to “technology-supported and learning-centred” libraries engineered by emerging technologies and the changing demand of academic library users. It was found that the librarians in the study had moderate to low skills in providing advanced technological support to users in creating, capturing, editing, and sharing multimedia (video, audio, text, images) content for their research, teaching, and learning purposes. The results from the multinomial regression analysis with p values shows that the availability of information technology (IT) facilities, their usability and the skills of librarians were significant, revealing that they have effects on the levels of library space transformation. The capabilities of librarians should be improved from undertaking basic computing tasks to providing advanced support to their users. Stakeholders and academic library management should encourage their young librarians to further their education and engage in continuous professional development programmes. Libraries should develop strategies to secure the necessary funding to integrate IT facilities. The study used quantitative methods to study transformations in academic library spaces, a grey research area in Ghana.
Rendering Library Services Amid the Corona Virus Pandemic: A Case of The Balme Library of the University of Ghana
(International Association of University Libraries (IATUL, 2020), 2020) Donkor, Antonia Bernadette; Yeboah, Francis; Afrane, Daniel Akwasi
The monumental libraries of the past where users could only assess the resources physically have indeed shifted to the virtual use of materials. Libraries of today are truly more than physical building; all over the world, libraries were forced to shut down their physical buildings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irrespective of the physical closure, most libraries continued to render invaluable services to their users virtually. The Balme library of the University of Ghana was no exception. Ghana recorded its first suspected Corona Virus case on the 12th of March, 2020. Consequently, the government of the Republic of Ghana ordered the closure of all universities and schools indefinitely on the 16th of March, 2020. Entrenched in a circular signed and distributed by the University’s Registrar on the 21st of March 2020 titled ‘Update on the closure of University’ exempted the University of Ghana Library System and for that matter the Balme Library, from the essential services provided by the University under the circumstances of the pandemic. This led to the physical closure of the Balme Library. The physical building of the Balme Library and all other libraries on the campuses of the university were closed. This notwithstanding, the staff and management of the Balme Library did not relent in providing services to the university community. The library launched deeply into the use of its virtual platforms in providing library services to the university community. This paper provides a catalogue of services rendered to the University community and the public amidst the Covid19 pandemic. These services, among others, include Chat with a Librarian, Off-Campus Access to Databases, Online Chat, Online Databases, Online trainings, article request, institutional repository (UGSpace).
Strategy for the Resumption of On-Site Operation of the University of Ghana Library System Amid the Corona Virus Pandemic
(International Association of University Libraries (IATUL, 2020), 2020) Donkor, Antonia Bernadette; Yeboah, Francis; Afrane, Daniel Akwasi
The availability of information on the nature and spread of the Corona Virus eased the fear and uncertainties surrounding the pandemic after about three months episodes of total and partials lockdowns in Ghana. This saw the government of the Republic of Ghana gradually easing restrictions imposed on citizenry. After nearly three months (90 days) of the closure of the University of Ghana, and for that matter the Balme Library, a hint from the President on the possible re-opening of schools and stakeholder engagements with tertiary institutions sparked up the interest of librarians in looking out for possible re-opening strategies. A purposeful sample of nine senior members was drawn from the population of Senior Members who support the managerial operations of the library. This sample comprised the Reference Librarian and the Head of the various Satellite Libraries in the University of Ghana Library System (UGLS). Through focus group discussions, using virtual platforms such as Zoom and WhatsApp a plan for the safe occupancy of the Libraries was put together to be implemented should the University be called to resume its teaching activities. This paper examines the strategies employed in developing the strategic plan that was implemented for the safe resumption of on-site operation by UGLS amid the Covid-19 pandemic in June, 2020.
Student’s Assessment of Balme Library’s use of Information Technology in Providing Quick and Efficient Library Services
(South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 2022-12-27) Afrane, Daniel Akwasi; Van der Walt, Thomas B.; Donkor, Antonia Bernadette
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.