STRATEGIES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ELECTRONIC RECORDS IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY STAFF IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study attempts an empirical investigation of strategies for the preservation of electronic records in university libraries in Nigeria. The main objective of this study is to ascertain the strategies used by the University libraries in Nigeria to preserve electronic records. The study employed descriptive research design. The population comprises one hundred and sixty nine (169) librarians from university libraries in Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used and the instrument for data collection is semistructured closed and open-ended questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, charts with simple percentages. Statistical Package for Social Science version 22 are used for data analysis. The findings of the study revealed that (𝑥= 1.63±SD= 0.660) majority of university libraries in Nigeria do not have in place preservation strategies for electronic information records. 94.1% of librarians do not possess requites skills for preserving electronic information records. Lack of manpower and other infrastructure are identified as the major inhibiting factors (𝑥= 3.90±SD= 0.418). The study also found out that there is a significant relationship inhibiting factors of preservation and preservation strategies adopted by university library staff in Nigeria (r=-0.305, N= 169 and P< 0.01).