Libraries Remain Relevant Despite Growing Use Of Technology

The growing use of smartphones, tablets, artificial intelligence and other digital platforms has transformed the way people read, learn and access information. However, the Ghana Library Authority said the rise of technology has not made physical libraries irrelevant, as patronage continues to grow.

The Authority said its libraries recorded more than 1.4 million visits in 2022. The figure rose to more than 1.7 million in 2023 and exceeded 2.6 million in 2024. In 2025, the libraries recorded more than 1.9 million visits.

The Head of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Library Authority, Angela Osei-Gyan, said the figures demonstrate that physical libraries remain important to the public.

“Normally, because of technology, people may think that the library is not being patronised, but that’s not the truth,” she said.

According to the Authority, libraries continue to provide access to books, research materials, computers and quiet spaces for learning. They also organise programmes designed to promote reading and improve learning outcomes among children and young people.

The Authority has also embraced technology by introducing the Ghana Library app, which allows users to access library services online.

“We have a digital app, which is called the Ghana Library, that is open to all. It’s even zero-rated on MTN and Telecel,” Ms. Osei-Gyan said.

The app is intended to make library services more accessible, particularly to people who may not be able to visit a physical library regularly. The Authority said the digital platform complements, rather than replaces, its network of physical libraries.

At the Okaikoi South Community Library, management said patronage has remained encouraging despite the widespread use of digital devices.

The librarian, David Kwasi Boakye, said the facility has adopted outreach activities to attract more users. Staff visit schools, markets and other public places to inform people about the services available at the library.

“Management asked us to go out to talk to them, talk to the schools about the library. So, we go to the market and promote the library,” he said.

The library offers more than access to books. It organises debates, quizzes, reading clinics and storytelling sessions to encourage children to read and expose them to different learning opportunities.

These activities also provide learners with opportunities to develop their communication, comprehension and critical-thinking skills.

However, some teachers say technology has introduced new challenges for learners, particularly when it comes to concentration. The easy availability of entertainment and information on digital devices can make it difficult for some children to remain focused on a book or assignment.

A teacher at Hallel Basic School said learners’ attention spans were increasingly becoming a concern.

“Their attention is their bottleneck. So, it means that when they are reading, they have technology available at their disposal,” she said.

She explained that although digital tools could support learning, learners needed guidance to use them productively. Without proper supervision, devices could distract students from reading and other academic activities.

Learners themselves have different preferences when it comes to reading. Some are comfortable using phones, tablets and computers, while others prefer printed books.

For some students, hard-copy books make it easier to concentrate and understand what they are reading.

One learner said, “Hard-copy books, because it improves my critical thinking. It improves my reading skills.”

Another learner said printed books offered a more engaging reading experience than digital versions.

“I would say the hard copy because the technology version, most of the time, gives you too many details and doesn’t give you the experience of reading the book,” the learner said.

The Head of Schools and College Libraries at the Ghana Library Authority, Edwin Agyemang said the continued relevance of physical libraries is linked not only to the materials they provide but also to the environment they create for learning.

He said libraries offer quiet and structured spaces where learners can read, study and process information without the distractions often associated with digital devices.

“The conditions, environment that a library gives you to even learn, the computer or the internet doesn’t do that,” he said.

He added that libraries also help learners develop the discipline of reading and encourage them to engage with information critically. This, he said, was particularly important at a time when artificial intelligence and online platforms were making large amounts of information available to users.

The growing use of artificial intelligence has raised questions about how learners research, write and verify information. While digital tools can provide quick answers, educators and library officials say users must still be able to assess the accuracy and relevance of the information they receive.

The Ghana Library Authority said libraries can play an important role in helping users develop those skills. Librarians can guide learners towards reliable sources and teach them how to search for, evaluate and use information responsibly.

The Authority therefore believes technology and physical libraries should not be viewed as competing alternatives.

Instead, digital platforms can expand access to library services, while physical libraries continue to provide spaces, resources and guidance that technology alone cannot offer.

Although technology continues to influence how people access information, the Ghana Library Authority said it will continue to modernise its services while maintaining the traditional role of libraries as centres for reading, learning, research and community development.