Abstract:

Electronic records in libraries are information recorded in digital form and not in physical format. Electronic records are produced in large quantities and are liable for becoming inaccessible or unreadable compared to traditional physical records that could stand a test of time and last for hundred or thousand years because of their nature. It is therefore very essential for university libraries to develop preservation strategies to prolong the survival of electronic records for posterity and continuing of use.

Electronic records preservation strategy are seen as mechanism put in place to ensure that these records original value are maintained for long-term access. This process of preservation of electronic records for continued access is a serious issue facing university libraries in Nigeria as well as the global setting. A number of limiting factors have been identified in the literature. These include lack of requisite technical expertise, reliance on software and hardware for function ability and quick obsolescence as a result of the rate in technological change. All these are major concerns that require proper planning by implementing preservation strategies.

This study is, therefore, an empirical investigation of strategies for the preservation of electronic records in university libraries in Nigeria. The specific objectives are to: investigate the preservation methods used by the university libraries in Nigeria, establish the level of librarians’ skills in the preservation of electronic records preservation in Nigeria; ascertain methods used to ensure the authenticity of preserved electronic records by university libraries in Nigeria; and identify problems hindering university libraries for effective preservation electronic information records in Nigeria. Descriptive research design will be employed and the population will comprise of (150) one hundred and fifty (all) university libraries in Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique will be used and the instrument for data collection will be semi-structured closed and open-ended questionnaire. Data will be analysed using descriptive statistics, charts with simple percentages. Statistical Package for Social Science version 22 will be used for data analysis.

Keywords:

ICTs, Preservation Strategies, Digital Curation, Electronic Records, Preservation, University Digital Library Services, Electronic Information Resources.