On 25 September 2026, the KNUST Library System organised a training programme for its contract staff to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills in research support and information management.

The training focused on key aspects of the research workflow, equipping participants with practical approaches to identifying, retrieving, evaluating, organising, and managing scholarly information. The session also highlighted effective literature search strategies to help researchers navigate the research process from topic identification to the management of relevant scholarly resources.

A key component of the training was a hands-on session on Publish or Perish, a software tool for retrieving and analysing academic publications and citation data. Participants were introduced to how the tool can support literature discovery, citation analysis, and the identification of relevant scholarly works.

The programme further introduced participants to reference management tools, highlighting their importance in organising research sources, generating citations and bibliographies, and maintaining consistency throughout the research and writing process.

Beyond the individual tools, the training emphasised the importance of understanding the research workflow as an interconnected process. Participants were guided to appreciate how information retrieval, literature management, citation practices, and other research activities work together to support effective academic research.

The training provided an opportunity for the contract staff to enhance their professional competencies and gain a deeper understanding of the research needs of students, faculty, and other library users. The knowledge and practical skills acquired are expected to strengthen their capacity to provide effective research support and contribute to the delivery of quality library services.

The KNUST Library System remains committed to building the capacity of its staff and strengthening research support services in fulfilment of its mandate to support teaching, learning, and research excellence.