Joel Sam

Dr Joel Sam (born in 1958) is a Librarian by profession with over thirty years experience. He is the current Director of AfLIA and ACAFi projects of African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) and a member of the EIFL Management Board.

Early Life

Born in Sekondi, Central Region of Ghana to the late Mr. John David Sam and Ms.Elizabeth Mensah. Twice in his life, He was a teaching assistant at the University of Ghana Teaching- Department of Philosophy, October 1985 – September 1986 for his National Service and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, December 1994 – September 1995, whilst pursuing his second degree. Joel married his childhood sweetheart Mercy Adwoa Sam, and the two have four children.

Career

Prior to his employment with AfLIA, he was a Director at the Council for Scientific and industrial Research (Ghana) - Institute for Scientific Technological Information (CSIR-INSTI) July 2010 to June 2018, immediate past Chair of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana (CARLIGH) September 2013 to January 2020 He worked as a Part-time Lecturer at the Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana. A Member of Editorial Boards of the Ghana Library Journal – December 1996 to December 2006, as well as the NARS Newsletter – July 2002 to December 2007. Board Member- Interim Council of Creative Arts – September 2016 to January 2017; . Board Member- Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing (GINKS) – December 2002 to date; Member- International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) – September 1999 to date; Member. Ghana Library Association – January 1991 to date

He was also an Assessor of documents for promotion of senior members in the Library Profession in Ghana for CSIR-Ghana, University of Ghana -Balme Library and other Academic Libraries such as . Joel served as a Chairperson for the Search Committee for a Librarian of Sunyani Technical University from October 18, 2019 to February 20, 2020. Secretary to the Search Committee for a Librarian of Koforidua Technical University – March 21, 2019 to July 3, 2019. Chairperson. Search Committee for a Librarian of Accra Technical University – July 9, 2018 to December 18, 2018.

Projects Coordinated

As an information Scientist, he has coordinated several Projects at the National and international level including

• Research Communication Capacity Building Activities at CSIR-INSTI. INASP-funded Project. November 2014-June 2016
• Open Access Policy at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Ghana (CSIR-Ghana). EIFL-funded Project. February 2015-October 2015
• Supervisor. TEEAL and Research4Life Training, Outreach and Support Programme for Ghana. ITOCA-funded Project. March 2014-June 2016
• Ghana AGRIS Pilot Project – FAO funded Project. October 2007-September 2010
• Project Manager (Ghana). Regional Agricultural Information and Learning System (RAILS) funded by AfDB through FARA. 2007-2014
• CSIR-INSTI/IICD of the Netherlands ICT Project. October 2002-March 2007
• Ghana-Question and Answer Service (QAS) Project. CTA of the Netherlands funded Project. March 2000-December 2011
• Library and Information System Component of National Agricultural Research Project/Agricultural Services Sub-sector Investment Programme. World Bank funded Project. September 1997-August 2007.

Education

Joel started his education at the Sekondi Takoradi City Council (STCC) Primary School, then to St. Johns Senior High School located in Sekondi and finally to the University of Ghana to pursue his first degree in Philosophy and Political Science (1985). Currently, he holds a PhD. in Information Studies (2013), MPhil. - Library Studies (1995), Graduate Diploma Library Studies (1989). To enhance his performance, he took short courses in other relevant fields essential for his career including: Certificate in Management Development, GIMPA, Ghana, (2006); Certificate in Management of Information Systems, ISNAR, The Netherlands, (2001); Certificate in Office Administration and Management, Development Management Associates, Ghana, (1997); Certificate in Agricultural Documentation, CTA, The Netherlands, (1997); Certificate in Information Management Systems, ARCT, Senegal, (1997); Certificate in Management of Information in Animal Agriculture, ILRI, Ethiopia, (1991); Certificate in Editing, Ghana Book Development Council, Ghana, 1990

Publications

Dr. Sam has contributed to knowledge in the Library and information Profession by publishing research articles in several journals. Some of his publication titles are

• Young, J.C., Lynch, R., Boakye-Achampong, S., Jowaisas, C., Sam, J. and Bree, N. Volunteer geographic information in the Global South: barriers to local implementation of mapping projects across Africa. GeoJournal (2020).
• Lynch, R., Young, J.C., Jowaisas, C., Rothschild, C., Garrido, M., Sam, J. and Boakye-Achampomg. Data challenges for public libraries: African perspectives and the social context of knowledge. .
• Folitse, B.Y., Sam, J., Dzandu, L.P. and Osei, S.K. Poultry Farmers’ Information Needs and Sources in Selected Rural Communities in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.
• Sam, J., Osei, S.K., Dzandu, L.P. and Kirchuffs, A.  Evaluation of Information Needs of Agricultural Extension Agents in Ghana.
• Sam, J. and Dzandu, L. The Use of Radio to Disseminate Agricultural Information to Farmers: The Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) Experience.
• Chisenga, J., Kedemi, R., and Sam, J.  The Use of Social Media in Agricultural Research Workflows in Ghana and Kenya. 
• Dzandu, L., Osei, S. K., and Sam, J. The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Dissemination of Agricultural Information to Stakeholders: The Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS) Experience. Ghana Library Journal, 24(2), 2012, p. 20-31.
• Chisenga, J., Kedemi, R., Sam, J., Rudgard, S., and Martin, F.  Disseminating the Outputs of Agricultural Research in Africa.
• Sam, J. An Analysis of Papers published in the Ghana Library Journal: A Bibliometric Study. 
• Sam, J. and Tackie, S.N.B. Citation Analysis of Dissertations at the Department of Information Studies, University of Ghana, Legon.
• Alemna, A.A., and Sam, J. Critical Issues in Information and Communication Technologies for Rural Development in Ghana.
• Sam, J. and Verster, E. Developing and Managing Question-and-Answer Services: Challenges and Lessons from PRAIS and GAINS.  Quarterly  Bulletin of IAALD LI (3/4), 2006, p. 239-247. (Journal renamed Agricultural Information Worldwide).
• Sam, J. Indigenous Scientific Knowledge and Sustainable Development in Ghana: an Overview.
• Sam, J. and Villars, J. A. Fertile Grounds: Opportunities for Greater Coherence in Agricultural Information Systems – Southern perspectives: Ghana.
• Sam, J.  Information Networking for Ghana’s Agricultural Research and Development.
• Sam, J. and Agyeman-Sereboo, M. Use of Micro CDS/ISIS in Libraries and Information Centres in Ghana.
• Sam, J. Community Libraries: Roles, Sustainability and the Encouragement of Reading in Ghana. 
• Sam, J. An Overview of the Ghana Agricultural Information Network System (GAINS).
• Sam, J. Information Support in the Formulation of Policies by Agricultural Policy Makers and Managers in Ghana.
• Sam, J. National Bibliography in Ghana.
• Sam, J. Use of Information by Agricultural Policy Makers and Managers in Ghana.
• Sam, J. Adequacy of Document Collection and the Satisfaction of Information Needs of Agricultural Policy Makers and Managers in Ghana.

External Links

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana

CSIR-INSTI

Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Ghana - CARLIGH

References

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