Digital preservation Strategies in the Federal University Libraries in the North West Nigeria

Abstract

Digital preservation involves those activities that are carried out in libraries to protect their information resources that are born digital or those converted from analogue to digital form from loss and deterioration and to ensure long-term access to it despite the current changes in technology. This paper investigates the types of information resources digitized, the strategies used by the federal university libraries in North West Nigeria to preserve them so that they will remain accessible for use and reuse and the challenges facing it .Continuous access to digital information remain difficult even after they are preserved. A qualitative research method was adopted for the study; a purposive sampling technique was adopted and a structured interview was the instrument used to collect data for the study. The responses from the respondents were analyzed descriptively using tables. The result of the findings showed that theses, dissertations, preprint and post print journals are the common information resources digitise and preserved while refreshing and technology preservation are some of the strategies use , external hard drive is the storage media use . Erratic power is one of the challenges facing digital preservation. Based on the findings, the study concluded that digital preservation of information resources is carried out in the digitization unit of the libraries studied. Digitised resources are preserved in external hard discs, servers and most importantly in Institutional repositories. The paper recommended among others sensitization of Academic staff on the importance of uploading; normalization strategy should be adopted, proper maintenance of storage media should be adopted, use of cloud storage and adequate fund should be provided and policy should be developed