Survey of Digital Preservation Challenges in Nigerian Libraries: Librarians' Perspectives

Abstract

This paper investigates digital preservation challenges in Nigerian libraries. In carrying out this study four research questions were posed. The study sample population comprised of 172 participants at the 2nd Conference of Certified Librarians from various libraries and institutions across Nigeria, organised by the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) in Abuja on the 11th – 16th October, 2015. The outcome of the study revealed that digital preservation challenges persist despite the awareness of digital preservation strategies by librarians in Nigerian libraries. The findings revealed major challenges facing digital preservation, such as hardware and software obsolesces, lack of training, lack of backup and standards, lack of strategy policy, lack of funds, lukewarm attitude among the librarians and lack of legal right to preservation of content. Recommendations were made to protect and safeguard digital preservation challenges in the libraries, including the recommendation that the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), University management and Library stakeholders should create a standard policy, provide needed skills for the librarians, lobby government for more funds and ensure that funds allocated to the libraries are properly utilised for effective digitization of library resources for future use.

Global perspective on digital preservation policy: A systematic review

“…Most (70%) of the 157 participants at the 2 nd conference of certified librarians registration council of Nigeria identified lack of policies as a major barrier in digital preservation activities at their institutions (Sambo et al, 2017). Majority (71.4%) of the 26 institutions in Botswana lacked retention rules.…”

Challenges of Digital Preservation of Information: A Case of Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service, Kenya

“…Also, the findings of the study were in agreement with According to Jain and Mnjama (2016) who stated that preservation of digital records included the following problems and challenges: lack of knowledge, shortage of adequately trained personnel to handle digital records, insufficient funding for human and physical resources required to establish and maintain the programmes and the technological obsolescence and fragility of storage media. It is known that the long-term digital preservation of resources in the archives is the preferred strategy for curbing the decay of materials and addressing the problems of hardware, software obsolescence, and backup issues (Sambo et al 2017).…”

Librarians’ perception of disaster preparedness as precursor for effective preservation and conservation of library resources in Nigerian university libraries

“…Regrettably, 70% indicated that they have not had any digital preservation training and as a result, they were not equipped with relevant skills to appreciate the exercise. Three years after, the situation has not changed significantly as Sambo, Urhefe and Ejitagha [31] found that lack of training was second, behind hardware and software obsolesces, on the list of challenges confronting digital preservation programmes in Nigeria. Similar challenges have been observed in the Zimbabwean National Archives context [52].…”