Assessing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Resources in Polytechnic Libraries in Ghana

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine the status of information and communication technology (ICT) in academic libraries in polytechnics in Ghana. The study utilized an e-mail survey of ten (10) polytechnic librarians with the use of structured questionnaires of open and close ended questions. The respondents were purposively selected. The findings were analyzed using SPSS software and presented by use of descriptive statistics. The study found that majority of the respondents does not have adequate ICT facilities in the polytechnic libraries, and therefore cannot support modern academic library services. The findings indicate that ICT-based services that enhance the delivery of library services are generally inadequate in these libraries which are expected to offer value-added services to users. Based on the research findings, the study suggests among others that polytechnics should acquire adequate ICT facilities in their libraries to provide modern academic library services to their users. Polytechnic libraries must position themselves strategically in terms of ICT to be able to sustain their services to help achieve their mission.