An assessment of the Ghana Library Authority In- Service Training for Junior Library Assistants

Abstract

This study assessed the operation and impact of staff performance and service delivery of the In-service training programme for Junior Library Assistants of the Ghana Library Authority. The ever increasing growth in the volume of publications in all fields of knowledge coupled with the advent of information and communication technologies in libraries has widened the scope of library services. There is therefore the need for public libraries to train their staff in order to perform effectively and efficiently. The survey method was used and data was collected using open and closed ended questionnaires and interviews. In all, 80 questionnaires were administered to 47 staff and 33 ex-workers of the Ghana Library Authority. The findings showed that most Junior Library Staff of the Authority lack basic skills in library routine work and this could be attributed to the suspension of the GLA In-service training programme. The study also revealed that the bulk of the Junior Staff at the GLA had qualifications ranging from GCE O’ level and SSSCE to Diploma. The study further revealed that the suspension of the programme was as a result of several factors such as the absence of a Board, training budget and a non-functioning training department. The study recommended among other things the resumption of the In-service training programme to enable all untrained Junior Library Staff receive training