Assessing the Training Needs of Academic and Research Libraries Staff in Ghana

Abstract

Academic and Research Libraries are transiting from the various traditional means of services provision since the dawn of the 21st century. As a result, training and retraining of staff have become imperative in the Library and Information Science profession. This paper takes a look at the training needs of staff in Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana. The main objective of the study was to investigate the training needs of staff of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana and make recommendations to improve them. The survey approach was adopted in conducting the study and questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data and findings were presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. The findings suggest that Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana organise training programmes for their staff. However, the frequency and duration of the training programmes are not enough to meet the needs of the staff. Also, staff in the Libraries have specific preferences but they are not given the opportunity to make inputs in their training programmes. The study recommended that the frequency, duration and methods of training should be improved. Needs assessment should be conducted in order to know the actual training needs of staff and all categories of staff should be given the opportunity to attend training programmes.

Keywords: Academic and research libraries, Ghana, Library and information science professionals, Staff development.

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