Becoming a competent weaver: information literacy practice of the weavers of the Bonwire Kente Centre in Ghana

Abstract

PurposeThis study examines what constitutes competence and how a novice becoming a competent weaver is enabled by information literacy in the fabric-weavers’ workplace landscape.Design/methodology/approachEthnography as a research design was employed using participant observation and semi-structured interviews as the data collection techniques.FindingsCompetence constitutes the demonstration of Kente knowledge and mentorship capability enabled by information literacy through access to the on-the-loom and off-the-loom information in the Kente-weaving landscape.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explains how the transition from a novice weaver to a competent weaver is underpinned by information literacy.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that contribute to the understanding of information literacy in the craft workplace. The study proposes a framework for weavers' information literacy practice.