Being where the users are.

Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate the preparedness of academic libraries in Ghana for the use of social media in reference and user services.Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach using interviews was used to solicit the views of Systems/reference librarians...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Library Review Vol. 65; no. 8/9; pp. 549 - 564
Autores principales: Ahenkorah-Marfo, Michael, Akussah, Harry
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Emerald Publishing Limited 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=119120900&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 119120900
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00242535
        8EO
      jtl: Library Review
      issn: 00242535
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: 2016
      vid: 65
      iid: 8/9
      pid: 465
      pub: Emerald Publishing Limited
    artinfo:
      ui:
        119120900
        10.1108/LR-02-2016-0020
      ppf: 549
      ppct: 15
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Being where the users are.
      aug:
        au:
          Ahenkorah-Marfo, Michael
          Akussah, Harry
        affil:
          Prempeh II Library, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
          Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
      su:
        Academic libraries
        Academic library administration
        Academic library software
        Online social networks
        Academic librarians
        India
      sug:
        subj:
          India
          Academic libraries
          Academic library administration
          Academic library software
          Online social networks
          Academic librarians
      keyword:
        Ghana
        Information needs
        Information provision
        Keywords Academic libraries
        Mobile technology
        Social media policy
      ab: Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate the preparedness of academic libraries in Ghana for the use of social media in reference and user services.Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach using interviews was used to solicit the views of Systems/reference librarians from six most highly ranked public and private universities (in Ghana) on their libraries’ preparedness for use of social media to provide reference and user services.Findings The findings of the study indicate that most of the university libraries lacked policy on the use of social media and that though librarians held the perception that social media was useful, they lacked the competence and motivation to use social media to make a remarkable difference in service delivery.Practical implications Academic libraries in Ghana and elsewhere will find the results useful in formulating policies for the use of social media in libraries.Originality/value This qualitative approach to the study of social media deviates from the mostly quantitative studies in the literature and has brought out more revealing findings.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2016
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N