Assessing the Changing Roles of University Library Staff: A Case of Ghana Technology University College, Ghana-Accra

The article deliberates on the changing role of library staff in the technology era. Due to electronic information explosion there are challenges for the library community at its very foundation, moving it away from the traditional paper and print format to an ethereal world of circuits and connectivity. Now the idea of library does not remain a physical repository that keeps information for people to access. Library staff has moved from the era of using early typewriters to the present internet. The study adopted a combination of purposive and convenience. The researcher used both primary and secondary sources of data. Personal interviews were the main data collection instrument and data collected was analyzed using SPSS. It was find out that Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) library staff possesses the skills in the use of technology in assisting their patrons in this changing electronic era but their level was not good enough. Recommendations were also provided in the aspect of giving training to library staff, partnering other institutions to increase versatility and collaborating with the university information support unit or service (ITSS).

Keywords: Electronic age, Information Technology, Technological age.

ALA, (2013). Transforming libraries, Engaging Communities. American Library Association Conference. Chicago, IL: ALA. p.2 Alemna, A. A. (2001) The need for marketing and total quality management strategies in libraries in Ghana, INSPEL 35, p. 265 Available

Antwi, I. K (2016). Communication in academic libraries: the case of Ghanaian libraries: Proceedings of the seminar for academic librarians organised by the Committee of University Librarians and their Deputies (CULD) held at the IEDE, University College of Education of Winneba, February 11-13, 1998, p.107

Chang, A. & Bright, K (2011). Changing Roles of Middle Managers in Academic Libraries. Library management, 33 (45). Available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0143- 5124.htm Creswell, J.W (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method of Approaches. 2nd ed., London: Sage Publication, Inc. p.29

Dzandu, L. P (2017). The impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Information Provision by the Libraries of Some selected Institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. (Unpublished MPhil thesis). University of Ghana, Legon.p.55

Elcom (2018). Elcom Retrieved July 2018 from https://www.elcomcms.com/resources/blogs/the-impact-of-technology-in-healthcare-trends-benefits-examples Fynn, A. (2012). Marketing Electronic Resources and Information Service: Case Study of the Balme Library, M A Dissertation presented to the Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon. (Unpublished). p.9

Kaliammal, A. and Selvi, T. G. (2004) The Virtual Library: Changing Roles and Ethical Challenges for Librarians, 2nd International CALIBER-2004, New Delhi, 11- 13 February, 2004. p.21

Kenan, S. K. (2012) "Perceptions of Personnel at Selected Texas Community Colleges Regarding the Impact of Technology on Their Libraries”, Educational Administration: Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research Papers p.87 Retrieved on the 14th April 2014, Available at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cehsedaddiss/87

Myburgh, S. & Tammaro, A. M (2012). Education for Digital Librarians: Some European Observations, in Amanda Spink, Jannica Heinström (ed.) Library and Information Science Trends and Research: Europe Vol. 6. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. p.24

Owusu Prince Okyere (2015). Digital Libraries – Dream or Reality? In SRELS Journal of Information and management. 41, p.16 Sagamay Deb (2010). Information Technology, its impact on society and its future. Advances in computing,4, p. 25-29.

Zhou, Q. (2005) "The development of digital libraries in China and the shaping of digital librarians", Electronic Library, 23, p.433