Interview with Professor A.A. Alemna, Librarian and Library School Faculty Member
| Pages | 28-29 |
| Published date | 01 December 2004 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07419050410577587 |
| Date | 01 December 2004 |
| Author | Esharenana E. Adomi |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Interview with Professor A.A. Alemna, Librarian
and Library School Faculty Member
Esharenana E. Adomi
28 LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 10 2004, pp. 28-29, #Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/07419050410577587
I want to introduce to you someone I
find inspirational and interesting and
who has had a varied career in library
and information science, Professor A.A.
Alemna who shares highlights of his
career.
Q1. You have been a lecturer in
some library and information schools
before assuming the role of a university
librarian at Balme Library, University
of Ghana, Legon (see www.ug.edu.gh/
content.asp?ID=51&db=3). Please let
us have a brief biographical account of
your career where you had your
education, qualifications/areas of
specialization and places you have
worked so far.
Ans. My academic qualifications
include the following:
.BEd (University of Cape Coast).
.Grad Dip Lib (University of
Ghana).
.MALS (University of Michigan).
.PhD (University of Ghana).
My working career includes the
following:
.Assistant Librarian (University of
Cape Coast).
.Lecturer (University of Maiduguri,
Nigeria).
.Lecturer (University of Ghana).
.Senior Lecturer (University of
Ghana).
.Associate Professor (University of
Ghana).
.Professor (University of Ghana).
.University Librarian (University of
Ghana).
In my teaching career, I have taught
a variety of courses, with the main
specializations being: library
management; collection development;
information in society; marketing of
library services; and oral
documentation in libraries.
Q2. You were once a lecturer in
library science at the University of
Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Which
courses did you teach there and what
prompted you to return to Ghana, your
home country? What were your
responsibilities as lecturer in the
Ghanaian library school before moving
to become the university librarian of
University of Legon, Ghana?
Ans. At the University of Maiduguri,
some of the courses that I taught were:
Education and Libraries; Audio-Visual
Services in Libraries; Sources of
Information in Education; and History
of Libraries.
Q3. As a lecturer, you were at one
time or the other head of department
and now you have assumed headship of
university library. How would you
compare the two kinds of headship? Are
there some peculiar challenges in each
case?
Ans. A Head of Department in a
University is quite different from a
University Librarian. My present role is
more embracing and has more
challenges as I am now responsible for
all the libraries in the university system.
Beyond that, I am also a Principal
Officer in the University, and this also
brings with it new challenges.
Q4. Please briefly share what
prompted you to seek appointment as
university librarian. Would you
recommend that for other colleagues
teaching in library schools?
Ans. Initially, it was not my intention
to become a University Librarian. It
was a proposal from the then Vice
Chancellor, that I go to fill a vacancy
that had been created for many years.
However, I have no regrets for taking
the job, as I still teach part-time at the
Department of Information Studies. I
would highly recommend that my
colleagues in other library schools
experience this change and opportunity.
Q5. A look at the literature of library
and information science and it reveals
that you have published much in both
indigenous and foreign journals. What
are your areas of research and what are
your motivations for writing? What do
you have to say to up and coming
academics/professionals with regard to
writing for publication in journals?
Ans. Research and writing have been
my hobbies since I started teaching.
They are things I enjoy doing and have
become part of my life. I suggest that
younger academics should develop this
habit. It may not bring immediate
rewardss, but I can assure you that in
the long-term, the benefit is beyond any
estimation.
Q6. Some people believe that
co-authoring is necessary in some
cases. What are your views on
co-authoring?
Ans. I believe in co-authoring first,
for mentoring purposes, and second, for
cross-cultural research. However, when
co-authoring becomes a disincentive,
e.g. delays in submitting individual
assignments, then I get very frustrated.
Q7. Library schools should ensure
that they produce graduates that can
meet up with the challenges of
modernization in provision of service
A.A. Alemna
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