Preservation of Archival Resources for Effective Service Delivery in Public University Libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the preservation of archival resources for effective service delivery in public university libraries in Rivers State, Nigeria. The risk management theory served as the theoretical framework for the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted, targeting all professional librarians in the public university libraries in Rivers State. The population consisted of 7 staff from Rivers State University Central Library, 19 staff from Donald Ekong Library, University of Port Harcourt, and 10 staff from Dame Patience Jonathan Automated Library, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. The entire population was studied and hence no sampling was done. A self-structured online questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analyzed using mean scores. The results showed that digitization, cleaning, environmental control, and storage in acid-free folders were the most used methods for preserving archival resources in public university libraries in Rivers State. However, several challenges were identified, including environmental factors, technological obsolescence, and physical conditions of materials. To combat these challenges, proper handling, proper storage, and digitization were recommended. The study's recommendations include the need for librarians to adopt digital preservation techniques, which offer long-term preservation. University libraries should employ skilled personnel in archival preservation to ensure proper handling and preservation of materials.