| This thesis investigates the various ways in which libraries and archives engage in collaborative activities to build digital libraries in Ghana. In particular, it examines the role of collaboration in three key areas: (1) the dissemination of technology-related skills through independent consultants, workshops, and professional conferences; (2) the sharing of equipment, including computers, scanners, and digital SLR cameras, as well as the use of open-source software; and (3) the sharing of infrastructure, particularly for hosting digital content on web servers located in the global North. Since digital libraries are established within a complex social, political, economic, and technological environment, this thesis also explores the impact of the global digital divide, intellectual property rights, and the political economy of information on decisions such as the use of open-source software, metadata standards, and open access. It is based on three months of field research conducted in Ghana from June to August 2008 and presents three case studies---the George Padmore Research Library on African Affairs, Gramophones Records Museum, and University of Cape Coast---that reflect the rich diversity of collaborative activities taking place in libraries and archives across the country. |
