The Need for Subject Librarians in Ghanaian Academic Libraries

Authors

K. Agyen-Gyasi, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Date of this Version

Winter 2008

Document Type

Article

Citation

Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (Winter 2008) 9(3). Also available at http://southernlibrarianship.icaap.org/content/v09n03/agyen-gyasa_k01.html.

Comments

Copyright 2008, the author. Used by permission.

Abstract

Abstract

The rapid development of information and communications technology with its proliferation of information resources, pressures from the expanding higher education system, the rise in student numbers, and the new economic and administrative frameworks are posing greater challenges to professional librarians in Ghana. Currently, information can be found in different formats such as e-books, CD-ROM, online journals and other electronic databases, in addition to the traditional paper formats. The introduction of the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications supported e-resources project has opened up access to full-text e-journals, e-books, and other databases on the Web to the State University Libraries in Ghana.

This paper discusses the relevance of subject librarianship in academic libraries in Ghana especially in light of the above-mentioned challenges. Among the roles subject librarians are expected to play include: the role of liaison with the faculty and users, collection development, monitoring and evaluation, selection of e-resources, managing digital portals and carrying out user education. This paper, also, discusses the benefits that academic libraries are likely to derive from adopting subject librarianship, as well as the major problems which could hamper the smooth implementation of this scheme. Additionally, this paper looks at recommendations to solve the highlighted problems.