The Use of Computers by Students to Access Information Literacy: Case of Okuapeman Senior High School (S.H.S.), Ghana

The use of computers by students to access information literacy is very important and integral because it forms the basis for lifelong learning. The study seeks to investigate how students recognize their information needs, the strategies used by them to locate and access information needed, how they evaluate search results and the challenges to the effective use of information by the students at the Okuapeman Senior High school. The study employed survey methodology and adopted the proportionate sampling procedure through the use of a structured questionnaire to sample 84 students out of the population of 670. The findings revealed that students need information for academic work, problem-solving, personal development, career development, an update on current issues, decision making, entertainment, employment and pleasure. They mostly consult knowledgeable person and teachers to complete their information task. The students select the most appropriate search tools, use the appropriate keyword(s), identify appropriate search techniques, and define appropriate search strategy through the use of both Internet and the Library to locate and access information. The students read critically to identify the key points thereby evaluating their search results. The challenges they encounter include poor attitudes of library staff and lack of time. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made: employing trained school librarian, installing internet connectivity, allocating more time and improving searching skills so that students can effectively use computers to access information literacy

Academic Libraries in Ghana and Their Strategies for Coping with the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, institutions of higher education shut down in compliance with the directives of the President of Ghana to curb the spread of COVID-19. In July 2020, when the lockdown restrictions were eased, universities resumed teaching, learning, and research in order to continue the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic year. Universities and their libraries immediately adapted to online teaching and the delivery of services and resources to their patrons even though most of them were largely unprepared for this ‘new normal’ experience. This paper adopts the qualitative research design which comprised documentary evidence of experiences of ten public and private universities libraries in Ghana with regard to their resources, services, facilities and staff as well as impact on library users during the pandemic. Findings reveal the strict compliance of the COVID -19 protocols and sanitation practices, the increased use of online databases, social media interventions and virtual training among others. The different strategies adopted by university libraries in Ghana are worth sharing and lessons learned provide a unique opportunity for academic librarians to rethink their key roles and core values in supporting the teaching and learning of their institutions during this very challenging time and the future

The Use of Computers by Students to Access Information Literacy: Case of Okuapeman Senior High School (S.H.S.), Ghana

The use of computers by students to access information literacy is very important and integral because it forms the basis for lifelong learning. The study seeks to investigate how students recognize their information needs, the strategies used by them to locate and access information needed, how they evaluate search results and the challenges to the effective use of information by the students at the Okuapeman Senior High school. The study employed survey methodology and adopted the proportionate sampling procedure through the use of a structured questionnaire to sample 84 students out of the population of 670. The findings revealed that students need information for academic work, problem-solving, personal development, career development, an update on current issues, decision making, entertainment, employment and pleasure. They mostly consult knowledgeable person and teachers to complete their information task. The students select the most appropriate search tools, use the appropriate keyword(s), identify appropriate search techniques, and define appropriate search strategy through the use of both Internet and the Library to locate and access information. The students read critically to identify the key points thereby evaluating their search results. The challenges they encounter include poor attitudes of library staff and lack of time. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made: employing trained school librarian, installing internet connectivity, allocating more time and improving searching skills so that students can effectively use computers to access information literacy

The Evaluation of Information Literacy among Medical Students at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana

The purpose of this study was to assess the information literacy of medical students at the University of Ghana. The convenience sampling technique was used to choose 206 respondents for the study, which yielded a response rate of 93.7 per cent. The study found that the majority of respondents needed information to acquire new knowledge in a subject area and to write assignments or project work. Moreover, most respondents rely on books, electronic books, and journals as their primary sources of knowledge. Furthermore, most respondents stated that they obtain their information via the internet. Additionally, most responders use the databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Again, the majority of respondents are aware of the concept of plagiarism and will acknowledge the author of a book if they use a piece of it in their work or study. Last but not least, respondents’ major concerns about information access were low internet speed, high cost of books and other information materials, and information overload. Thus, it is strongly recommended among others that the CHS administration especially the CHS Library should manage and develop their collections in that required and relevant information sources will be available for students to use in their assignments and project works