Building librarians’ skill in research data and output management: Case study of librarians at Sam Jonah library (University of Cape Coast) and Osagyefo library (Winneba campus)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine ways of building the capacity of librarians in two academic libraries in Ghana, to meet their extended role of managing research data and output. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodology with the use of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. It was supported by documentary analysis of data collected from 11senior members, and 13 Principal library assistants with post graduates degree in information related courses from the Sam Jonah Library and 16 professionals with post graduate degree in information studies from University of Education, Winneba library. Thus a total of 40 staff as a sample size. Some of the major findings are as follows: Though most librarians have an idea as to what constitute research data and its management processes, this knowledge cannot be said to have fully solved the challenges of managing research data in these academic institutions. There is also a revelation that most librarians classify research output as research data; respondents specified that even the research output repository managed by the libraries have few management challenges. Ghana can confidently boast of about twenty academic and research libraries, the study was however limited to two academic libraries, excluding the research libraries. The following are the implications of the study: firstly effective data management can help build up data reserve libraries and institutions can use strategically to help other researchers in the institution. Secondly data management roles of Librarians are associated with required knowledge and skills that cannot be overlooked. The study revealed that, currently most academic libraries have policies and systems that manage the institutional research outputs; however libraries can do more to help manage the data that produces these outputs as well, to actively support research lifecycle in our academic institution.