Ugne Lipeikaite, EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP) Impact Manager, discusses the benefits of interlibrary exchange visits - a new activity in the Digital Learning @ Ghana’s Public Libraries project.

As we enter the second and final year of the ‘Digital Learning @ Ghana’s Public Libraries’ project, a collaboration between EIFL and the Ghana Library Authority (GhLA), we are excited to introduce a new activity - interlibrary exchange visits. 

The two-year project equips school students aged 12–18 in Ghana with digital and information literacy skills and enhances learning by introducing the students to free and open online educational resources. The main project implementers are 15 regional and branch libraries. After completing an intensive training-of-trainers (ToT) course, librarians and ICT coordinators from the 15 libraries travel to schools to provide students with short hands-on training in digital skills, internet searching, digital reading, online safety, graphic design and computer coding. In addition, the students are invited to come to their local libraries and enrol for in-depth workshops covering the same topics learnt during the short classes at schools. 

By the end of 2024, the 15 libraries had conducted 122 outreach visits to schools, engaging 6,966 students in short classes on Microsoft Suite applications, Power Point, graphic design and coding, and 22 digital literacy workshops in libraries that helped 804 students advance their digital skills and knowledge.

The interlibrary exchange visits aim to ensure that all 15 libraries have staff who can carry out all the project activities - and this means filling knowledge and skills gaps resulting from staff rotation. Librarians and ICT coordinators who are new in their posts because of staff rotation and who have missed all or some of the project’s ToT course, learn from their experienced peers at other libraries. At the same time as supporting and strengthening implementation of the ‘Digital Learning @ Ghana’s Public Libraries’ project, by encouraging peer learning and knowledge-sharing between libraries, the interlibrary exchange visits are contributing to future sustainability of library digital skills training for school students, both at schools and in libraries. 

An action-packed learning programme

Six libraries participated in the first round of exchange visits. The three libraries with more experience were Cape Coast Regional Library, Eastern Regional Library and Ashanti Regional Library. The visitors were the National Children’s and Mobile Library, Sunyani Regional Library and Edward Akufo-Addo Public Library. Over three days, the visitors took part in an action-packed learning programme organized by the host libraries, comprising presentations about digital skills and training methods, observation of training during school outreach visits, training practice and coaching, exploring tips for facilitating digital learning workshops, and brainstorming strategies for building community partnerships to sustain digital literacy training for students beyond the project period.

The Sunyani Regional Library team, led by the library director and a newly-appointed ICT coordinator, expressed enthusiasm for the exchange. At Ashanti Regional Library, they learnt about new ICT tools, like the Rangers coding game which introduces learners to coding concepts. They plan to integrate Rangers into their training for students. "It was inspiring to see our new ICT coordinator exchanging ideas and training materials with the Ashanti Regional Library staff. This experience taught us very much needed skills," said the Sunyani Regional Library director.

An ICT coordinator from Edward Akufo-Addo Public Library found observing the Cape Coast Regional Library staff in action during an outreach visit to St. Nicholas Anglican Junior High School especially useful, saying it helped him to learn the step-by-step process of planning, executing, documenting, and reporting school outreach visits.

The project implementation team at the National Children’s and Mobile Library comprises the recently-appointed library director and an ICT coordinator. They shared takeaways  from their visit to the Eastern Regional Library. “We plan to make some changes after this visit,” said the ICT coordinator. “We’ll increase the visibility of our library activities on social media, intensify school outreach programmes, and strengthen relationships with local and district assemblies to expand our reach.”

These exchange visits highlight the power and value of collaboration and mutual support among libraries. Encouraged by the positive feedback from this first round, we look forward to organizing more exchange visits in the coming months.