School Libraries and Students’ Academic Achievements in Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District of Northern Ghana

Abstract School libraries are key agents in the educational system in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to assess the impact of school libraries on students’ academic success in Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District of Northern Ghana. The descriptive survey design was employed to determine the level of impact on the various variables deplored for the study. The population for this study was made up of Circuit Supervisors, teachers and students within the study area. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select three junior high schools with libraries and another set of three without libraries. Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table was used to select (150) students from a population of (240). Simple random sampling technique was used to proportionally select 25 respondents from each of the six schools. The instruments used for the study includes questionnaire, interviews, observation and existing document analysis. Key informants of 10 were interviewed and a visit to each of the schools included in this study was undertaken to observe how libraries utilisation could enhance students’ academic achievement. Paired t-test calculated at (p≤ 0.05) was used to determine differences in students’ academic achievement. The results indicated a positive significant difference in the academic achievement of students in schools with libraries and those without libraries in all the items that were investigated. The study recommends for a policy of ‘one rural school, one library’ stocked with relevant reading materials and the setting up of ‘Reading Clubs’ in rural schools in order to sustain students’ interest in reading

A Survey of Information Literacy (IL) Programmes in Technical University (Tu) Libraries in Ghana

A quantitative study of the libraries of 7 Technical Universities (TUs) of Ghana was conducted to evaluate information literacy programmes at such universities in Ghana. The study employed a descriptive survey research strategy. A sample of 7 librarians out of the 8 TU libraries in Ghana was collected using purposive sampling. A questionnaire served as the instrument to collect data relating to the objectives of the study. The study gathered mostly quantitative data which were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that the majority of the examined libraries included information literacy classes as part of their information literacy programmes. These were mostly widely delivered through face to face and online tutorial methods. Furthermore, the study identified the barriers to the successful implementation and running of information literacy programmes in Ghana. It identified lack of integration of information literacy into the curricula of tertiary institutions as a barrier to effective information literacy programmes. From this barrier many other barriers that are typically rectified when information literacy is properly integrated into school curricul

Access and use of e-journals by students of Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana

Advancement in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has led to an immense change in the format of resources and the structure of services of libraries worldwide. Academic libraries nowadays are seen to be collecting not only print resources but also non-print resources especially, electronic journals. In reality, electronic journals have turn out to be one of the most used technological developments in recent times. This study focused on determining the extent of awareness, access and use of electronic journals by the students of KsTU. The survey method was used with questionnaire as the major data collection instrument. A population of 1,057 was used for the study. The findings revealed that awareness was low and respondents emphasised on inadequate publicity of e-journals in the institution. It was also found that e-journals were under-utilized and unawareness was identified as the major factor for the low level of utilization. The study therefore, recommends awareness creation, more training on e-journals and improvement in infrastructure to enhance access and use of e-journals at KsTU and also to commensurate investments made in them

The Challenges of School Libraries after the Implementation of the New Educational Reforms in Ghana.

ABSTRACT The study is focused on challenges of school libraries in the new educational reforms in Ghana. The study was conducted at the Konongo-Odumase Senior High School in the Asante-Akim North District of the Ashanti Region. It is aimed at finding the extent to which the reforms has improved school library service provision. The study revealed that, school library service provision has not seen remarkable change since the inception of the new educational reforms in Ghana. Some of these challenges are poor funding, untrained library staff, poor facilities among others. To meet these challenges, some recommendations have been made. It is hoped that; if the recommendations made in this study are implemented, school libraries in Ghana will live up to expectation

School Libraries and Students’ Academic Achievements in Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District of Northern Ghana

Abstract School libraries are key agents in the educational system in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to assess the impact of school libraries on students’ academic success in Bunkpurugu- Yunyoo District of Northern Ghana. The descriptive survey design was employed to determine the level of impact on the various variables deplored for the study. The population for this study was made up of Circuit Supervisors, teachers and students within the study area. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select three junior high schools with libraries and another set of three without libraries. Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table was used to select (150) students from a population of (240). Simple random sampling technique was used to proportionally select 25 respondents from each of the six schools. The instruments used for the study includes questionnaire, interviews, observation and existing document analysis. Key informants of 10 were interviewed and a visit to each of the schools included in this study was undertaken to observe how libraries utilisation could enhance students’ academic achievement. Paired t-test calculated at (p≤ 0.05) was used to determine differences in students’ academic achievement. The results indicated a positive significant difference in the academic achievement of students in schools with libraries and those without libraries in all the items that were investigated. The study recommends for a policy of ‘one rural school, one library’ stocked with relevant reading materials and the setting up of ‘Reading Clubs’ in rural schools in order to sustain students’ interest in reading

A Survey of Information Literacy (IL) Programmes in Technical University (Tu) Libraries in Ghana

A quantitative study of the libraries of 7 Technical Universities (TUs) of Ghana was conducted to evaluate information literacy programmes at such universities in Ghana. The study employed a descriptive survey research strategy. A sample of 7 librarians out of the 8 TU libraries in Ghana was collected using purposive sampling. A questionnaire served as the instrument to collect data relating to the objectives of the study. The study gathered mostly quantitative data which were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that the majority of the examined libraries included information literacy classes as part of their information literacy programmes. These were mostly widely delivered through face to face and online tutorial methods. Furthermore, the study identified the barriers to the successful implementation and running of information literacy programmes in Ghana. It identified lack of integration of information literacy into the curricula of tertiary institutions as a barrier to effective information literacy programmes. From this barrier many other barriers that are typically rectified when information literacy is properly integrated into school curricul

Access and use of e-journals by students of Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana

Advancement in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has led to an immense change in the format of resources and the structure of services of libraries worldwide. Academic libraries nowadays are seen to be collecting not only print resources but also non-print resources especially, electronic journals. In reality, electronic journals have turn out to be one of the most used technological developments in recent times. This study focused on determining the extent of awareness, access and use of electronic journals by the students of KsTU. The survey method was used with questionnaire as the major data collection instrument. A population of 1,057 was used for the study. The findings revealed that awareness was low and respondents emphasised on inadequate publicity of e-journals in the institution. It was also found that e-journals were under-utilized and unawareness was identified as the major factor for the low level of utilization. The study therefore, recommends awareness creation, more training on e-journals and improvement in infrastructure to enhance access and use of e-journals at KsTU and also to commensurate investments made in them