Managing and Preserving Records and Archives that Guard Against Collective Amnesia

The article discusses the critical role of records and archives management in protecting the collective memory and safeguarding collective amnesia of institutions and societies. The article touches on some key factors responsible for “collective memory loss” and cites instances of memory loss from the West African region in general and Ghana in particular. The article proposes the following as the way forward: improvement in information culture; development of strong infrastructure of laws, policies and systems; new breed of information professionals, stronger professional collaboration and the revamping of the curricula of training institutions.Keywords: Records and Archives Management, Protecting the Collective Memory, Amnesia of Institutions and Societie

Disaster and Risk Management in an Electronic Environment: A Study of the Planning and Management Information Services Directorate of the University of Ghana

The study examines the management of disasters and risks in the Planning and Management Information Services Directorate (PMISD) of the University of Ghana. Questionnaire, interviews and observation were used to collect data from twenty-one (21) members of staff of the Directorate. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data that was collected. The study revealed a high level of unpreparedness of the PMISD to contain disasters and risks. In addition, the study found out that there was no disaster recovery plan, no systematic orientation and training schemes for staff in the area of risk management, inadequate security for network infrastructure and equipment and for that matter data security and an irregular risk assessment regime. The study made a number of recommendations with a view to strengthening the capacity of PMISD to manage disasters and risks and to be able to resume business promptly, given the electronic environment within which it operates

Abuse of Library Materials in Academic Libraries: A Case Study of the University of Cape Coast Main Library.

The study examines the extent to which materials in the University of Cape Coast (UCC) Main Library are abused. Using questionnaire, interviews and a collection survey, the various forms of document abuse, causes of abuse, and categories of documents mostly abused, categories of users that mostly abuse documents and the extent of physical damage to the documents were investigated. The findings of the study indicate that UCC main library materials are under serious threat of abuse through acts of vandalism, mutilation and theft, particularly by student users.The study recommends orientation and awareness programmes for new and old users, periodic stocktaking, better security and supervision, provision of multiple copies and investment in electronic resources