Published: 07 Oct 2016 Source: University Relations Office (URO)
University librarians would have to gain more insights into the principles underpinning the legislation on procurement and lay the foundation for the adoption of a national procurement policy that inures to the benefit of university libraries across Ghana. This is a call by Dr. Samuel Kotei Nikoi, the University Librarian of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Dr. Samuel Kotei Nikoi, University Librarian, KNUST
According to him, recent developments in information and communication technologies, dwindling budgets, the growing number and diversity of student populations, increased demand for distance education, the rise in electronic research all dictate that librarians must learn to do things differently.
“As the knowledge hub of the university, libraries are well-placed to find creative and efficient ways to deliver timely services that support the mandate of their institutions,” he added. Dr. Nikoi was addressing the opening of a two-day workshop on procurement at KNUST organised by the Committee of University Librarians and their Deputies (CULD).
The conference, on the theme “Procurement of Information Resources for Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana: Issues, Challenges and Prospects” has the objective of discussing the ramifications of the Public Procurement Act 914 on the procurement of teaching and learning resources for libraries of tertiary institutions in Ghana.
He continued that evidence showed that the digital era was changing the information- seeking habits and learning styles of users which called for a re-examination of national and institutional policies that impact on library operations and the adoption of new systems and processes that support teaching, learning and research.
The workshop attracted librarians, procurement officers, finance officers, booksellers and publishers agents to deliberate on procurement issues and challenges faced by academic libraries and service providers.
Dr. David Asamoah, Lecturer, KNUST School of Business
Dr. David Asamoah, a lecturer at KNUST School of Business and representative of the Vice-Chancellor stated that digital content was complex and expensive and called on librarians and suppliers to develop services and systems that procure, deliver and fully exploit the available content in the most cost-effective way.