INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: MEETING THE LEARNING CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY IN AFRICA

Abstract

The paper examines innovative strategies academic libraries can adopt to address the 21st century \nlearning challenges in Africa. The objective of the study is to identify some innovative strategies \nacademic library can adopt to personalize library services and make library a more motivating learning \nenvironment for all category of patrons (students, teachers and researchers). The research questions \ninclude: What are the trends in technological innovations in academic libraries? What is the role of \nleadership in promoting academic library innovative strategies? What strategies can academic library \nadopt to make the library a more motivating and interesting learning environment for students? How \ncan academic libraries strategize library services to support and encourage effective teaching and \nresearch? The paper reveals that library management or leadership is the driver of any meaningful \nchange in an academic library. The changes include technological innovations, that is introduction of \nnew ICT technologies in library will involve organizing training for the library personnel. That academic \nlibraries in Africa can be better repackaged aesthetically using furniture arrangement and colours to \ndemarcate the different section/unit with the sole aim of making the library more interesting and \nmotivating for learning. The paper recommendations include organizing ICT and communication, \ninterpersonal relationship skills for all library among others.