The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) and Book Aid International are initiating discussions on a potential partnership aimed at strengthening donation of medical and health sciences resources at the University’s library.
The Chief Executive of Book Aid International, Alison Tweed, said their visit to KNUST was to assess opportunities to support KNUST with up-to-date medical textbooks and reference materials.
‘‘We are here to discuss possibility of donating medical books to the KNUST library,’’ she said.
Alison explained that the organization works closely with leading global publishers, noting that its primary medical donor is Elsevier, alongside contributions from SAGE Publications, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Pearson.
“In an average year, we distribute about 80,000 medical books to partners across Africa, including teaching hospitals, university departments, and health training institutions,” the representative stated. “Our visit to KNUST is to understand your acquisition strategies and explore how we can work together to supply relevant medical books for your collections.”
She emphasized their organization’s commitment to quality and relevance, indicating that donated books are typically no more than five years old and largely consist of new titles. The organization also highlighted its tailored selection approach, which is guided by needs assessment forms completed by partner institutions.
“We pride ourselves on listening closely to our partners’ requirements,” Alison added. “Whether it is nursing, midwifery, orthopaedics, or other specialisms, our goal is to ensure the books we send are aligned with institutional priorities.”
Dr Bruce Lamptey, University Librarian, outlined the University’s collection development strategy, explaining that academic resources are centrally procured and distributed across colleges, with additional subject-specific acquisitions undertaken at the college level.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare welcomed the initiative, describing access to current medical literature as critical for teaching, learning, and research.
Discussions also addressed logistical considerations, particularly customs clearance and associated charges.
Both parties expressed optimism about the proposed collaboration, with further consultations expected to define priority subject areas and institutional needs.
