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Title: | Information needs and seeking behaviour of engineers in Ghana: a case study of the Volta River Authority |
Authors: | Tackie, S. Nii Bekoe Adams, Musah |
Year: | 2007 |
Periodical: | African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science |
Volume: | 17 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 69-78 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Ghana |
Subjects: | engineers information special libraries |
Abstract: | The Volta River Authority (VRA) is mandated to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to all sectors of Ghana's economy. It has branches in most parts of the country. In order to facilitate the provision of timely and adequate information to its workforce of 115 engineers, the authors conducted a questionnaire survey in 2005 to find out the basic information needs of the engineers and to determine the various factors that influence their information seeking behaviour. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 86 engineers. 55 questionnaires were completed and returned. The study revealed that the engineers required detailed, brief, as well as factual information in order to perform their jobs. Their search for information was influenced by the need to solve a problem, gain knowledge or make a decision. Although the engineers rated the provision of library facilities at their work place as important to their work, they usually consulted their colleagues, their personal library at home, the Internet or relied on their memory, when pressed for information. The library and information centres were consulted only as a last resort. Other sources of information vital to the job success of the engineers were external conferences, and VRA information resources. It is recommended that information packaging should be vigorously pursued in order to meet the needs of the engineers and also to extend library and information services to all branches of the VRA. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |