Information Needs and Access among Women in Sagnerigu District of Northern Region, Ghana

The aim of this study was to assess the information needs, sources and the challenges of information access among women in Sagnerigu district in Northern Ghana. Data was collected through questionnaire and interviews from 150 women participants in different geographical zones in the district. The study discovered that majority of women in the Sagnerigu district often need information that is related to agriculture, health and family planning issues. However, it was clear from the analysis that, the women do not have access to the required information that would alleviate poverty among them. There were two critical access gaps between the women with formal education and those without formal education. For their information needs, majority of the women trusted interpersonal networks which they are comfortable with such as family, friends, neighbours and social groupings as against formal sources of information such as internet and the newspapers which are less reliable and used. It was also revealed that access to information by women is affected by lack of skills, financial resources and the existence of rural and urban differences as well as gender and other inequalities. The study suggested the establishment of information systems and centres such as libraries, internet, information and communication technology centres by integrating it into a wider educational programmes in the district

Awareness and Utilization of Electronic Library Resources by Students of Tamale Technical University, Ghana

Abstract The study assessed the extent of awareness and utilization of electronic library resources by students of the Tamale Technical University in Ghana’s Northern Region. Descriptive survey design was employed to collect data from 150 students using questionnaire. From the analysis, the study found that students awareness level of electronic resources was very low as majority (61%) of the students interviewed indicated they were unaware of the existence of electronic library resources in the school because they did not have prior knowledge of its existence. As a result, many of the students still resorted to the traditional library system for their research. Added to this, the small proportion (16%) of students who were aware of the existence of the electronic library resources in the school hardly utilise it for their academic purposes as 37% of respondents reported they used the electronic library resource once a week whilst 31% of the respondents used it twice week. The study therefore concludes that the low awareness of electronic resources by students in the school culminated in its low utilisation

Information Needs and Access among Women in Sagnerigu District of Northern Region, Ghana

The aim of this study was to assess the information needs, sources and the challenges of information access among women in Sagnerigu district in Northern Ghana. Data was collected through questionnaire and interviews from 150 women participants in different geographical zones in the district. The study discovered that majority of women in the Sagnerigu district often need information that is related to agriculture, health and family planning issues. However, it was clear from the analysis that, the women do not have access to the required information that would alleviate poverty among them. There were two critical access gaps between the women with formal education and those without formal education. For their information needs, majority of the women trusted interpersonal networks which they are comfortable with such as family, friends, neighbours and social groupings as against formal sources of information such as internet and the newspapers which are less reliable and used. It was also revealed that access to information by women is affected by lack of skills, financial resources and the existence of rural and urban differences as well as gender and other inequalities. The study suggested the establishment of information systems and centres such as libraries, internet, information and communication technology centres by integrating it into a wider educational programmes in the district

Awareness and Utilization of Electronic Library Resources by Students of Tamale Technical University, Ghana

Abstract The study assessed the extent of awareness and utilization of electronic library resources by students of the Tamale Technical University in Ghana’s Northern Region. Descriptive survey design was employed to collect data from 150 students using questionnaire. From the analysis, the study found that students awareness level of electronic resources was very low as majority (61%) of the students interviewed indicated they were unaware of the existence of electronic library resources in the school because they did not have prior knowledge of its existence. As a result, many of the students still resorted to the traditional library system for their research. Added to this, the small proportion (16%) of students who were aware of the existence of the electronic library resources in the school hardly utilise it for their academic purposes as 37% of respondents reported they used the electronic library resource once a week whilst 31% of the respondents used it twice week. The study therefore concludes that the low awareness of electronic resources by students in the school culminated in its low utilisation