Mission Statement The Mission of the University Library is to build a comprehensive collection of recorded information to support effective teaching, research and entrepreneurship training in Science, technology and related fields and to facilitate speedy access to information, and to optimize the use of the collection by students, lecturers and researchers in KNUST and other institutions of higher learning and research.

Vision StatementThe Vision of the University Library is to be an excellent repository of recorded knowledge, providing information for effective teaching, research and entrepreneurship training in the areas of science, technology and related fields to the University and the entire scientific community in Ghana and other countries.

About usIn January 1952, the collection of the Teacher Training Department of Achimota College, numbering about 4,000 volumes, was transferred to form the nucleus of the library of the newly-established Kumasi College of Technology, Science and Arts. The library was housed in a prefabricated building. By 1958, its book stock had increased to 19,000 volumes, while the journal holding stood at 580 titles.

In November 1961, the Kumasi College of Technology attained the status of a full-fledged university and became known as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Within the same year, the University Library moved into a new permanent building with a stock of 24, 362 volumes.

The new University Library, which was built to cater for 100,000 volumes and to provide seating for 250 readers, had been stretched to its elastic limit by the 1976/77 academic year. In 1979, the excavation and foundation works on extension to the Library commenced. However, it was met until 1999 that the project was completed and put to use. The existing physical facility would be adequate up to the year 2005.

The Library has a collection of 196,000 volumes and a holding of 3,214 journal titles with a few of them on subscription. It has a seating capacity of 1, 353.

The Faculty/Institute School Libraries together have a collection of about 80,000. This brings the total collection of all the libraries of the University Library System to 276,000 volumes.

The University Library is the management centre for all library operations in the University. It provides staff and technical services as well as coordinates the activities of the Faculty/Institute/School Libraries. The University Librarian is the administrative head of the University Library System, which is made up of the University Library and the twelve (12) Faculty/Institute/School Libraries. She is directly responsible to the Vice-Chancellor in all administrative and disciplinary matters concerning the Library. The University Librarian is supported by a Deputy Librarian and departmental heads who are all professional librarians. These heads are the means through which power and authority from the University Librarian flows down to the para-professionals and the Junior Library Assistants.

There are fourteen (14) professional librarians within the University Library System. Out of the number three (3) have been posted to the libraries of the School of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Science. There are also seventeen (17) paraprofessionals, fifty-three (53) Junior Library Assistants, one (1) technician, thirteen (13) administrative staff and twenty-three (23) cleaners in the University Library System.

The University Library has seven functional departments: Administration, Acquisitions, Serials, Cataloguing, Lending, Reference and Research and the Electronic Information.

Administrative DepartmentsThe Administration Department is directly responsible for handling all matters pertaining to the administration of the libraries within the university. It is headed by the University Librarian and other members of staff include Administrative Assistants. Typists, Clerks, Messengers and an Accountant.

Acquisitions DepartmentThe Acquisitions Department acquires the relevant library materials - books, journals, manuscripts, maps all in print format as well as online journals and databases to support the academic work of the university. Materials selected for acquisition are obtained through local and foreign purchases, donations and exchanges. Some local publishers also send copies of their works to the library in compliance with the legal deposit law of (Book and Newspaper Registration Act 1963) Ghana. Graduates theses/dissertations and bound journals are also important sources of acquisition by the library.

In recent times, however, donations have come to represent the largest proportion of materials acquired by the Library. Majority of these are received from the Ghana Book Trust, Book Aid International and the United Nations and its affiliates like the WHO, FAO and UNESCO.

Serials DepartmentThe Serials Department is responsible for the subscription, processing and display of journals, newspapers and newsletters for the University Library. Current issues of all journals received are displayed on racks in the Department, while back issues are kept on shelves for consultation by users until they are ready for binding. Users are not allowed to remove journals and newspapers to read in any part of the Library. Neither are users allowed to borrow any materials in the Department. A database has been created for local newspapers and it has been given the name NINDEX. As at the middle of February 2004, 16,474 records had been entered into the database.

Cataloguing DepartmentThe Cataloguing Department is charged with processing all the materials that the University Library acquires. Materials which are acquired are classified, catalogued and indexed and stored for easy retrieval. Since the 1985/86 academic year, the Library has shifted from the sheaf catalogue to the card catalogue. Right now, the Library is trying to develop an online open access catalogue (OPAC) of the holding of all the libraries within the University Library System to facilitate document delivery and ensure easy access to each other's resources.

Lending DepartmentThe Lending Department houses books which could be borrowed by users for reading outside the library premises. It also handles the registration of new users, user education, inter-library loan transactions and offers assistance to users generally.

Reference and Research LibraryThe materials found in this library are mainly reference works, notably language and subject dictionaries, encyclopaedia, standard textbooks, university calendars and British and American Standards. Publications in this Department are meant for consultation within the Library and cannot be borrowed.

The main function of this Department is to handle readers enquiries. Sometimes the more difficult and complex enquiries are referred to the head of the department when the Assistants on duty cannot handle them satisfactory.

Undergraduate LibraryThe Undergraduate Library stocks multiple copies of prescribed or core textbooks. It is a reserved collection and books may only be consulted within the library premises. However, the Librarian may allow overnight borrowing of materials. A short loan collection is kept in closed shelves and the books are issued to users for use in the library for specific periods.

Ghana CollectionThis is a special collection of materials on Ghana. It includes Departmental Reports, Ordinances, Survey Maps of Ghana, Legislative Assembly Reports and Government Publications. The materials in this section are on closed access and are used for reference only on application to the Reference Librarian.

ThesesThe Library collects unpublished graduate theses/dissertations from all the Faculties/Institutes and Schools in the University. The collection is for reference only. Undergraduate project reports are, however, kept in the respective Faculties/Institutes and School Libraries.

United Nations PublicationsThe Library has a collection of publications of the United Nations and its specialized agencies (FAO, UNESCO and WHO). These publications are kept on the third floor of the old block alongside the theses/dissertations and Women's Studies Collection which consists of books, pamphlets and reports on women and gender issues.

Women's Studies CollectionThis collection is housed on the third floor of the old Library Block and consists of books, pamphlets and reports on women and gender issues.

Electronic Information DepartmentThe Electronic and Information Department provides internet and e-mail services to the university community and the general public. The Department also has facilities for accessing online journals and databases. It has a computer laboratory with forty (40) computers all with internet connectivity.

Currently, the University Library is benefiting from the Programme for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERI), launched by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INSAP) and funded by DANIDA. Under the Programme, the public university libraries and those of research institutes under the CSIR can access over 8,000 online journals and databases for a five-year period (2000-2006). They cover a wide range of disciplines, including science, medicine, agriculture, pharmacy and engineering which are all pursued at the KNUST.

Contact Us The University Library
KNUST
Kumasi
Ghana

Tel: +233-51-60199
Fax: +233-51-60358
E-mail: library@knust.edu.gh