Attitude and Interest of an Information Professional Towards Digital Preservation
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study is to investigate the attitude and interest of information professionals towards digital preservation while the following are the specific objectives:
- To determine the attitude of librarians towards digital preservation in University of Lagos and LASU.
- To determine the interest of the librarians towards digital preservation in University of Lagos and LASU.
- To determine the level of digital preservation in University of Lagos and LASU.
- To determine the factors militating against digital preservation among librarians in University of Lagos and LASU.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Concept of Digital preservation
Digital preservation was described by ALA (2007) as combined policies, strategies and actions to ensure the accurate rendering of authenticated content over time, regardless of the challenges of media failure and technological change. The Joint Information Systems Committee (2003) defined digital preservation as “the series of actions and inventions required to ensure continued and reliable access to authentic digital objects for as long as they are deemed to be valued. Satish and Umesh (2005) stated that digital preservation means taking steps to ensure the longevity of electronic documents. It applies to documents that are born digital and stored online (or on CDROM, diskettes or other) or to the products of analogue-to-digital conversion. Maharana & Panda (2001) further described digital preservation as a process by which data is preserved in digital form in order to ensure usability, durability and intellectual integrity of the information contained therein.
(McGovern’s report) asserted that, policies and other documentation of decisions and actions represent one of the best indicators of the development of the organizational leg. At the 2006 Best Practices Exchange (BPE) in North Carolina ‘participants stressed again and again that a successful digital preservation program requires a strong foundation. Participants identified four essential elements for building a strong foundation for a digital preservation program: support and buy-in from stakeholders; ‘good enough’ practices implemented now; collaborations and partnerships; and documentation for policies, procedures, and standards.
While Nancy Y.McGovern’s (2007) observation about the sentiments expressed at the 2006 Best practices Exchange (BPE) noted that there is an awareness of the need for documented digital preservation policy. Russell reported in 2007 the results of a survey indicated that (92%) of institutions were already digitizing from source materials, only (29%) had written policies or plans for digitization. While (59%) of respondents reported that their digital materials had a need life of 25 years or longer, which was the longest option offered in the questionnaire, only (13%) had written plans or policies for digital preservation. This data suggested that institutional planning for digitization lagged far behind creation and confirmed our view that institutions needed help with policy development. The results of two studies — one in Europe and one in North America — published in 2011 indicate that progress has been made, but there is still a gap between preserving digital objects and having articulated policy to govern and manage the process. A 2009 Planets project survey showed that: Nearly half (48%) of the organizations surveyed have policies for the long-term management of digital information, where long-term is defined as greater than five years. This varies by organization; (64% of archives, and 43% of libraries, have a digital preservation policy.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which 100 were returned. The analysis of this study is based on the number returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
As many LIS stakeholders in Nigeria are working towards ensuring efficient and effective digital information services, there may be no meaningful achievements in the long run unless urgent steps are taken to put in place relevant policies and ensure improved capacity building for libraries and librarians as it relates to preservation of digital information and resources. Investments in digital information sources and services needed to be protected and this can majorly be achieved by developing and implementing effective training pattern, policies and measures to safe guard them. Information sources and media in the electronic age are changing rapidly while some are fast becoming obsolete. This trend needed to be clearly studied, understood, and strategies designed to ensure continuous availability, accessibility, and use of resources in future.
At the moment, there is no national policy on preservation of digital contents in libraries in Nigeria compare to notable countries or organizations across the world. This is a threat to the efficient and effective information service delivery in the information technology era. Special training sessions on preservation of digital materials at this critical period need to be organized for librarians in order to improve their skills on the job.
It is also important to formulate policies and develop standards that will serve as a guide for libraries and librarians on preservation and management of digital resources. A handbook on digital preservation for libraries and librarians is necessary in this regard to compliment standard or policy. Management support is crucial for the successful execution of many projects, library boards or management need to show more commitment towards the preservation of library resources.
With the trend on the number of untrained librarians, there is tendency that the challenges of digital preservation in Nigerian libraries will persist. This therefore calls for urgent attention of University administrators and Library managers to ensure that librarians acquire needed skills for effective digitization of library resources for future use.
Recommendations
Based on the findings, the researchers recommend as follows, that:
- There is need to train and retrain librarians on new technologies and trends in managing library digital resources in this era. Also LIS curriculum should be reviewed to accommodate training of students with necessary skills to manage and preserve digital information materials.
- Policies on appropriate implementation of digital preservation systems should be reviewed for effective and efficient service delivery in libraries.
- There should be national policy on preservation of digital contents in libraries across Nigeria.
- Software and hardware technologies for digital preservation process in Nigerian libraries should be up-to-date since electronic age is changing rapidly.
References
- ALA (2007). Definitions of digital preservation. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/preserv/d efdigpres0408
- Ann Russell (2007) ‘’Surveying the Digital Readiness of Institutions’’ The International Journal of Digital Curation No.7
- Beafrie N. (2006). Digital curation for science, digital libraries and individual. The International Journal of Digital Curation, Vol. 1(1), Autum, p. 3-16
- Bruce Ambacher (2011) Establishing Trust in Digital Repositories. Statistical Science and Interdisciplinary Research. Vol 10, P.343
- Felicia, E. E.& Christopher, J. (2012). Visibility and accessibility of academic and research. Library in digital environment. Paper presented at the Workshop on Academic Library Practice in the Digital Environment organized by the NLA, Academic and Research Library Chapter held at University of Calabar, from 20th -23th November, 2012.
- Gbaje E. (2012). Digital preservation and implementation strategies. Paper presented at the Workshop on Academic Library Practice in the Digital Environment organized by the NLA, Academic and Research Library Chapter held at University of Calabar, from 20th -23th November, 2012.
- Gladney M. H. (2007). Preserving digital information. Spring, Berlin Heidelbege: New York, 2007. Awareness of Digital Preservation Strategies by Librarians in Nigeria
- Hedstrom, M. (1998). Digital preservation: a time bomb for digital libraries. Computers and the Humanities. Vol. 31, P.198-202.
- Joint Information Systems Committee (2003). E- Science curation report, data curation for e- science in the UK: and audit to establish requirements for future curation and provision. Retrieved from
- http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/e- ScienceReportFinal.pdf
- Joint Information Systems Committee (2004). Digital preservation coalition training needs analysis final report. Retrieved February 24, 2014 from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/program mes/preservation/trainingneedsfinalreport.pdf
- Maharana B. & Panda K. C. (2001).Preservation of digital information in libraries: Issues and strategies In Naidu M. K. R. et al (Eds.). Creation and management of digital resources. Proceedings of CALIBER-2001 National Conference, 15-16 March 2001, INFLIBNET, Ahmedabad, p. 130-136