Information provision on Academic library websites in Ghana: Pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic analysis

Abstract

Academic library websites are used to provide relevant information and services to the immediate academic community and beyond. This study aimed to determine the kind of services and information provided by academic libraries in Ghana on their websites before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using content analysis, the study adapted Pareek and Gupta’s (2013) academic library website checklist as a tool for collecting data on the websites of nine selected academic libraries in Ghana before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the two data sets. The findings revealed that the websites are used mainly as avenues for information provision on some aspects of resources and services provided. However, there has been a reduction in the number of websites, the extent of information and service provision when the data from pre- and post-COVID-19 were compared. Service provision on the websites, which is the current demand from library users, is very minimal, and the libraries lack information on their websites about their unique and rare collections. Evidence from the websites of Ghanaian academic libraries gives an indication that the libraries are not making extensive use of their websites to meet the demands of the 21st-century information service provision through virtual service delivery. This prevents global access to the contents of the library collection. It is therefore recommended that libraries see their website as a modern marketing tool and develop strategies to optimise its use