Dialogic communication on universities in Ghana libraries’ websites

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to ascertain the contents of universities in Ghana libraries’ websites and find the dialogic potential of the websites. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative content analysis technique was used. The sample includes the libraries’ websites of universities in Ghana that have received presidential charter. A checklist was developed to assess the content of the websites. In assessing the dialogic potential of the websites, Kent and Taylors’ framework was used. Findings – Findings from the study show that Ghanaian universities libraries’ websites are providing only static information about libraries and their services. The libraries’ websites are deficient in providing vital information on newspapers, print journals, frequently asked questions and date of post. Again, findings of the study indicate that universities in Ghana libraries’ websites have poor dialogic features. Originality/value – There is no study investigating the dialogic potential of universities in Ghana libraries’ websites.

Communication on the university library websites and students’ scientific information-seeking during the Covid-19 outbreak: A comparison of four Asian countries

“…However, studies on the application of dialogic communication on university library websites have not been widely carried out. Agyemang, Boateng, and Dzandu (2015) have used the dialogic communication model to evaluate university websites based on content analysis of website's features. Yet, the study was not conducted by investigating students' opinions.…”

“…Although websites have been investigated as a means of communication in the context of public relations in various business and government companies (Akwari, 2017;Kent and Taylor, 1998;Kriyantono, 2019), these public relations concepts are not yet widely known in library management. In fact, there is a tendency to reject these concepts in library practice (Agyemang, Boateng, and Dzandu, 2015).…”

“…However, several studies before the pandemic indicated that university library websites were still not dialogic (Agyemang, Boateng, & Dzandu 2015). Adopting Littlejohn, Foss, & Oetzel (2017), it is argued that, before the pandemic, face-to-face communication that was carried out without physical restrictions or social distancing had the advantage of influencing attitudes and behaviour.…”

“…The research question: Is the library website still not dialogic, as the findings of several studies conducted before the pandemic era? (As cited in Agyemang, Boateng, & Dzandu, 2015). Since previous studies have focused more on analysing website content (Agyemang, Boateng, and Dzandu, 2015;Kent and Taylor,, 1998;Oliveira and Huertas, 2014), this current study focused on student opinions about the quality of dialogic communication on library websites.…”

Evaluating the Dialogic Potential of Websites of Universities in Ghana

“…They noted that ease of interface, usefulness of information and conservation of visitors" features were principles that featured in all the websites studied. Boateng, Agyemang and Dzandu (2015) on the other hand employed content analysis to assess the universities in Ghana libraries" websites. They noted that there are scanty and dated information on the universities libraries" websites.…”