Christian Service University (CSU) marked its maiden Chapman Library Month Celebration (CLMC) with a thought-provoking seminar themed “Beyond the Bookshelves: Exploring New Horizons in Libraries.” The Keynote speaker, Dr. Richard Bruce Lamptey, a research expert and seasoned librarian, empowered students, faculty, and staff with innovative strategies to maximize library resources in the digital age. He highlighted the urgent need for university libraries to embrace digital transformation, innovation, and accessibility to remain relevant and impactful.
He outlined five critical areas for library evolution:
- Digital Transformation & Open Access: Investment in institutional repositories, AI-powered search tools, and open-access initiatives.
- Libraries as Innovation Hubs: Incorporating makerspaces, digital labs, and VR technology for immersive learning.
- Combating Misinformation: Strengthening information literacy through media literacy and research ethics training.
- Libraries & Sustainable Development: Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through digital inclusion and climate research.
- Accessibility & Inclusion: Providing assistive technologies and multilingual resources for diverse learners.
Dr. Lamptey emphasized that libraries are not just repositories of books but dynamic spaces for innovation, research, and scholarly collaboration. He urged university leadership to invest in modern library technologies, enabling AI-driven research tools, IoT-enabled smart libraries, and cloud-based learning platforms.
He recommended leveraging academic search engines (Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed), research collaboration platforms (ORCID, ResearchGate, Google Scholar Profiles), and AI-driven personalized recommendations to improve research efficiency and resource discovery.
Encouraging the CSU community to embrace modern library technologies, he called for greater collaboration among faculty, students, librarians, and policymakers to sustain libraries as catalysts for knowledge creation and academic excellence. He remarked: “Libraries are not being replaced by technology; they are being transformed into intelligent spaces that foster innovation, accessibility, and collaboration.”
The seminar brought together academics, researchers, and students to reimagine the evolving role of libraries in the digital age, reinforcing the urgent need for libraries to adapt continuously to technological advancements to remain essential in academia and society.
Story By:
Anastasia C. Afenu
(Institutional Advancement Office)
