Chancellor of University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr. (Sir) Sam Esson Jonah, has inaugurated three (3) state-of-the-art facility centres at the Sam Jonah Library.
The facilities are a Video Conferencing and Virtual Meeting Place, Social Learning Commons, as well as Development Information Commons.
The Video Conferencing and Virtual Meeting Place is an ultra-modern facility equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including a smart TV, HD camera, Logitech, high quality speakers and microphones as well as super high speed internet connectivity.
The Social Learning Commons, a relaxed modern learning environment, enhances collaboration and sharing of ideas and knowledge. The Development Information Commons also provides a learning space equipped with workstations connecting laptops to high-speed internet. The space may also be used for training and conference purposes.
At a ceremony to inaugurate the facilities, Dr. Sir. Sam Jonah assured the leadership of the Library of his family’s support and expressed his appreciation for their effort to modernise the library to promote quality teaching and learning.
The Chancellor being supported by the Pro VC-UCC, Prof Boohene, to inaugurate one of the facilities. Looking on are the chief of Kokoado, Nana Kweku Enu (in cloth) and immediate past VC-UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah.
The library facilities, Dr. (Sir) Jonah explained, had supported collaborative research and group learning for both postgraduate and undergraduate students.
The new facilities are further going to enhance the comfort and the speed at which researchers are going to engage their peers all over the world, he continued.
The Chancellor called on all and sundry to put their shoulders to the wheel to support the library system in the University to be well equipped to execute its mandate, provide learning spaces, facilities and services that would enhance academic work.
He stressed, “Needless to say, a well-resourced university library has the potential of providing innovative services that will make great impact in quality academic work."
"This is the reason why we all have the responsibility to support the development of this library to reflect the status of our university as the number one in Ghana..." Dr. Jonah emphasized.
The Chancellor with the chief of Kokoado, Nana Kweku Enu and the Registrar of UCC , Mr. Jeff Teye Onyame (left) He urged the University Librarian and his staff not to relent in their efforts to deepen the innovations and transformation agenda for the Sam Jonah Library.
As part of efforts to transition the Sam Jonah Library into a modern library, he called for training of library staff to be abreast of emerging technologies and at par with the digitalised world.
For his part, the University Librarian, Dr. Mac-Anthony Cobblah, noted that an assessment was carried out on the Library and the result was that the Library was bereft with resources to provide 21st century library products and services to its patrons.
Hence, a strategic plan was developed to modernize and equip the Sam Jonah Library with ultra-modern and state-of-the art learning spaces and facilities.
While lauding the Chancellor and management of the University for their unflinching Support to the Library, Dr. Cobblah was of the firm hope that the newly-inaugurated facilities would enhance academic work and "contribute to the visibility and image of our university."
For her part, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof (Mrs.) Rosemond Boohene, who chaired the inauguration, expressed gratitude to the Chancellor for his relentless support towards the Library. She added that the academic and research work of every university was built around a vibrant and viable library system.
"I am proud that the Sam Jonah Library is responding to the transformational changes taking place in the higher educational landscape” she said.
She continued, “With the support of the Chancellor and all stakeholders, we are making the Sam Jonah Library the most resourceful university library in Ghana and West Africa to reflect our current world ranking."
As part of the inauguration, members of the library staff exhibited and demonstrated how new products and services could be accessed at the freshly-commissioned facilities.
Present at the inauguration were the Registrar of UCC, Mr. Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame; the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah; the chairman of the UCC@60 Planning Committee, Prof. Livingstone Sam-Amoah; Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Chairman of the Sam Jonah Library Board, Prof. Kwabena Sarfo Sarfo-Kantankah and some members of faculty as well as non-faculty staff.
Pro VC being supported by the Registrar, Mr. Jeff Teye Onyame and the Librarian, Dr. Cobblah (in UCC@60 fabric) to inaugurate the facility.
In a similar development, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rosemond Boohene, has inaugurated the Records Centre of the University of Cape Coast. The Records Centre, located at the Emmanuel Adow Obeng Central Administration block, is equipped with storage facilities for managing University records.
Additionally, it has equipment for digitalizing the records of the University.
Dr. Cobblah taking the Pro VC and her team on a tour of the Records Centre
Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC