Joseph Dotse Komla Plahar, is an experienced librarian, educator, and researcher. He was appointed the Ag. Librarian of the College on 3^rd February, 2005.  With a clear objective to contribute meaningfully to institutional growth through quality library services, Joseph has developed a career centered on leadership, innovation, and academic excellence.

As a purpose-driven individual, Joseph brings a wealth of experience and technical skill to his professional roles. His expertise spans across cataloguing, classification, reference services, electronic support, and information repackaging and dissemination. He is also proficient in collection development, library policy formulation, and the application of library management software such as KOHA. His work ethic is defined by responsibility, creativity, and effective teamwork, with a strong ability to work independently under pressure.

Joseph’s academic journey reflects his dedication to continuous learning. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Information Science at the University of South Africa (UNISA), researching digital transformation pathways for library services in Ghana’s colleges of education. He holds a Master of Philosophy in Information Studies and a Master of Arts in Information Studies, both from the University of Ghana. His earlier academic achievements include a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Education, Winneba, and a Bachelor’s degree in Information Studies and History, and a Diploma in Librarianship at the University of Ghana, Legon.

In addition to his formal education, Joseph has earned various professional certificates, including training in cloud computing, advanced research and academic publication, labour law, copyright and licensing, and online design and teaching. His global academic exposure includes certifications from institutions in India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Ghana.

Professionally, Joseph has accumulated extensive experience in academic libraries and higher education. Since 2019, he has been the Head of Library Services at St. Francis College of Education, where he has overseen strategic planning, staff coordination, and library system upgrades including the implementation of KOHA. He also serves as a part-time tutor at multiple institutions including Jackson College of Education, St. Francis College of Education, and the University of Cape Coast’s sandwich programme, where he teaches information literacy and education courses.

His earlier professional experiences include working as a library assistant and senior library assistant at Ho Technical University, where he managed cataloguing and circulation services, and contributed to the creation of a technical support unit for revenue generation. He also served briefly as a credit officer at Weto Rural Bank and held library assistant roles at Central University and the University of Ghana’s Balme Library.

Joseph has also demonstrated effective leadership within and beyond his workplace. He currently serves as the Governing Board Chairman of the Amankwakrom Fisheries and Agricultural Technical Institute in the Afram Plains. He has chaired and participated in various committees at St. Francis College of Education including sponsorship, planning, procurement, and naming policy committees. He is the current chairman of the College’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Non-Teaching Staff Association of Ghana (CENTSAG) and a Council Member of the Ghana Library Association (GLA).

His commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth is further evident in his participation in several workshops, seminars, and conferences. He has facilitated sessions on leadership and personal development, and participated in training programmes on academic library management, bibliometric, research impact, and strategic planning in education.

Joseph holds memberships in several professional associations including the Ghana Library Association, the Association of Higher Education Librarians and Deputies Ghana (AHELD-GH), and the College of Education Librarians Association (COELAG).

As a researcher, Joseph has contributed to scholarly discourse through publications and presentations. His research covers diverse areas such as virtual learning systems, information literacy, and the impact of social media on academic writing. He has presented at national and international platforms, including the E-Learning Ghana Conference hosted by KNUST and various Ghana Library Association events.

Joseph Dotse Komla Plahar brings on board his distinguished professional blend of academic achievement, practical experience, and leadership to influence library science, education, and research at St. Francis College of Education.