Strategy Development for Building Digital Collections of the University of Cape Coast Library, Ghana : A Case Study

Strategic planning is a critical issue for higher education academic libraries, especially in developing countries like Ghana, due to limited financial resources and the rapid change in the information environment during the last several decades. Theory-testing case study methodology was used in this thesis to examine strategy formulation and implementation in building the digital collections of the University of Cape Coast Library (UCCL) in Ghana. The main question the study attempted to answer was how did the DL strategic formulation and implementation processes used by the UCC in building its digital collections compare with the Mintzberg’s strategic formulation and implementation framework? The instruments used for data collection were the key informant interview technique and document reviews. The results showed that, during the formulation phase, two aspects (resources and aspirations of senior management) were emergent. During the implementation phase, five aspects (achieving results, processes and behaviour, standards, motivation, and personal) were emergent. All other elements of building the UCC digital collections were planned during both the formulation and implementation phases. Although the basic technical architecture for the digital library is in place, inconsistency between organizational objectives and the values of the management group was identified as a problem in strategy formulation. Digital library staff reported that cost of using Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities, frequency of power outage, obsolete digitization equipment, interconnectivity problems, and high cost of internet connectivity inhibited their work and regular student access to digital collections. Although the emphasis on students and learning is laudable and apt, there seems to be lack of focus on research support beyond digital collection building, despite the fact that research excellence is one of the UCC’s key priorities. Opportunities exist for improving feedback mechanisms between the users, digital library staff and the university management; and inclusion of social media tools in the digital library project.Program: Masterprogram: Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap, Digitala bibliotek och informationstjänste