Evaluating Digital Infrastructure for Innovation in Ghana's Technical University Libraries

Purpose: The advent of modern technology has opened up new avenues in which libraries could be utilised. It has expanded and shifted the idea of accessing library resources from physical buildings to remote access via information and communication technology (ICT). In light of this, an assessment of technical universities' ICT facilities in Ghana was needed to evaluate their effectiveness. Design/Methodology/Approach: This work was conducted with a study population of 148 library staff and librarians from eight technical universities in Ghana. The study employed a mixed-methods approach. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to assess the availability of ICT facilities relative to print (e.g., books, theses, newspapers) and electronic resources across the eight technical university libraries in Ghana. Findings: The p-value for all eight technical universities on ICT availability was less than the significance level (i.e., 0.05) used in the ANOVA. A p-value less than 0.05 implies a lack of ICT resources compared to other library resources, such as books, newspapers, and electronic resources. Research Limitation: This research highlighted the availability of ICT resources for library users in technical university libraries in Ghana. Practical implication: This paper will help decision-makers at technical universities plan and prioritise which resources to acquire to ensure effective service delivery to library users. Social Implication: This study will help improve the delivery of academic information to library users (i.e., lecturers, students, and the public). Originality / Value: This study was conducted using a sample drawn from a population of technical university library users, thereby making the results highly relevant to decisions concerning technical university libraries in Ghana.