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Academic and Research Libraries are transiting from the various traditional means of services provision since the dawn of the 21st century. As a result, training and retraining of staff have become imperative in the Library and Information Science profession. This paper takes a look at the training needs of staff in Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana. The main objective of the study was to investigate the training needs of staff of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana and make recommendations to improve them. The survey approach was adopted in conducting the study and questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data and findings were presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. The findings suggest that Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana organise training programmes for their staff. However, the frequency and duration of the training programmes are not enough to meet the needs of the staff. Also, staff in the Libraries have specific preferences but they are not given the opportunity to make inputs in their training programmes. The study recommended that the frequency, duration and methods of training should be improved. Needs assessment should be conducted in order to know the actual training needs of staff and all categories of staff should be given the opportunity to attend training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this study is to discuss the impact of performance appraisal on the productivity levels of professional and para-professional librarians in selected academic and research libraries in Ghana, namely, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Building and Road Research Institute, Crop Research Institute and the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Kumasi Polytechnic. Design/methodology/approach -- Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for the study. The primary data involved the use of a structured questionnaire to 60 respondents, but 50 of them, representing 83.3 per cent, responded. This was supplemented by secondary sources such as records on file, journals, books and Internet sources. Findings -- The survey revealed that these institutions practice performance appraisal on an annual basis as a way of promoting team work, reducing grievances, identifying employees' strengths and weaknesses and their training needs. It was observed that these institutions do not have a common appraisal format for appraising their staff. Furthermore, only the Head Librarians carry out the appraisals instead of the Line Mangers who are always in touch with these employees on a daily basis. Originality/value -- The paper will be of significant value to policymakers and administrators in academic and research institutions in the planning and implementation of performance appraisal systems. Challenges facing these institutions in implementing effective performance appraisal have been highlighted and appropriate recommendations have been made to ensure quality service delivery. Paper type Research paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) hold tremendous potential for rural development in Ghana in the areas of agriculture, health, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), and education. Using the theoretical sampling method, this paper takes a closer look at the ICT scene in Ghana from 2000 to 2011 with emphasis on the role of ICTs in rural development. The paper also draws attention to the efforts made by past and present governments of Ghana to solve the major problems facing ICTs development in Ghana. Investigations from the study revealed that ICTs play major roles in the socio economic development of rural areas in Ghana with a huge potential for accelerated development in these rural areas. ICTs have contributed immensely to improve communications, deepen decentralization, and attract Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). ICTs have also contributed in automation of Rural Banks, networking, information sharing and the provision of ICT enhanced distance learning in the rural areas of Ghana. However, there are some serious challenges militating against the full realization of ICTs role in Ghana's rural development. Issues such as unavailability of electricity, lack of ICTs equipment, high level of illiteracy, user acceptance and local content have to be addressed before the full potential of ICTs role in Ghana's rural development can be achieved. Some recommendations are made as to what the government and other development agencies can do to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this audit was to assess and improve the completeness and accuracy of the National Joint Registry (NJR) dataset for arthroplasty of the elbow., Methods: It was performed in two phases. In Phase 1, the completeness was assessed by comparing the NJR elbow dataset with the NHS England Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data between April 2012 and April 2020. In order to assess the accuracy of the data, the components of each arthroplasty recorded in the NJR were compared to the type of arthroplasty which was recorded. In Phase 2, a national collaborative audit was undertaken to evaluate the reasons for unmatched data, add missing arthroplasties, and evaluate the reasons for the recording of inaccurate arthroplasties and correct them., Results: Phase 1 identified 5,539 arthroplasties in HES which did not match an arthroplasty on the NJR, and 448 inaccurate arthroplasties from 254 hospitals. Most mismatched procedures (3,960 procedures; 71%) were radial head arthroplasties (RHAs). In Phase 2, 142 NHS hospitals with 3,640 (66%) mismatched and 314 (69%) inaccurate arthroplasties volunteered to assess their records. A large proportion of the unmatched data (3,000 arthroplasties; 82%) were confirmed as being missing from the NJR. The overall rate of completeness of the NJR elbow dataset improved from 63% to 83% following phase 2, and the completeness of total elbow arthroplasty data improved to 93%. Missing RHAs had the biggest impact on the overall completeness, but through the audit the number of RHAs in the NJR nearly doubled and completeness increased from 35% to 70%. The accuracy of data was 94% and improved to 98% after correcting 212 of the 448 inaccurately recorded arthroplasties., Conclusion: The rate of completeness of the NJR total elbow arthroplasty dataset is currently 93% and the accuracy is 98%. This audit identified challenges of data capture with regard to RHAs. Collaboration with a trauma and orthopaedic trainees through the British Orthopaedic Trainee Association improved the completeness and accuracy of the NJR elbow dataset, which will improve the validity of the reports and of the associated research., Competing Interests: Z. Hamoodi reports research fellowship funding from Royal College of Surgeons, National Joint Registry, and The John Charnley Trust, related to this study. A. Sayers is senior statistician on the HQIP/NJR Lot 2 contract. M. R. Whitehouse is the principal investigator for the HQIP/NJR Lot 2 contract to provide statistical support, analysis and associated services to the NJR, related to this study, and reports multiple grants or contracts from the NIHR and Ceramtec, royalties or licenses from Taylor & Frances, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Heraeus, all of which are unrelated to this study. A. C. Watts reports royalties or licenses and patents planned, issued or pendingfrom Adler, consulting fees from Medartis, payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Medartis, Stryker, and Arthrex, all of which are unrelated to this study, and is also a member of the editorial boards of the National Joint Registry and The Bone & Joint Journal., (© 2024 The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery.)