Academic Libraries and Research Data Management Services in Ghana

Abstract

This study, as part of a larger study, examined the provision and impact of research data management (RDM) services in Ghanaian academic libraries—an underexplored area in developing countries. The study employed a mixed methods research approach. Data were collected from graduate students, lecturers, and librarians across public and private universities. The study found that academic libraries in Ghana’s universities have contributed immensely and diversely to RDM services. These include RDM policy development, data repository development, data storage and reuse, and research data sharing. The study also found that university libraries organise RDM training for both staff and students, covering metadata and data curation, ICT use, funding requirements for data research, thesis writing, research publications, collaborative partnership and research, and data security and storage. The study further established that RDM services have had a positive impact on data reuse and collaborative research among students and lecturers, resulting in improved data quality, access, accuracy, consistency, and reliability. RDM services have also led to increased efficiency of data handling, reduced risk of data loss in databases, and enhanced collaboration among students and lecturers. To sustain and improve RDM services in academic libraries, management of universities must enhance RDM services with an emphasis on improving access and utilisation through effective collaboration between libraries and researchers. To enhance RDM services, it is further recommended that the capacities of library and IT staff should be enhanced to keep pace with evolving trends and technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research data management.