DIGITIZATION OF LOCAL CONTENT RESOURCES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This Study investigated the Digitization of Local Content Resources in Federal University Libraries in South East, Nigeria. The Research was guided by eight Research Questions which bordered on the LCR Acquired for Digitization in Federal University Libraries in South East Nigeria, the Criteria for Selecting LCR for Digitization, the Infrastructural Facilities for Digitization, the Formats for Digitization of LCR, the Extent of Digitization of LCR in Federal University Libraries, the Extent Digitization of the Resources have Increase the use of the Resources, the Problems Affecting Digitization of LCR and the Suggested Strategies to Enhance the Digitization of LCR. A descriptive Survey Design was used to conduct the Research. The Population of the Study consisted of the five Federal University Libraries in the five States in South East. A Purposive Sampling Technique was used to select the number of respondents in the three Universities used for the Study. The Questionnaire, Observation Checklist and Interview were used to collect data for the Study. Observation was done for Research Questions 1 and 3 which were on the LCR Acquired for Digitization and on the Availability and Functionality of Infrastructural Facilities for Digitization. Interview was conducted on the 8 Research Questions. Data from the Questionnaire was Analyzed using Frequency mean and percentages, Data from the Observation was Analyzed using Frequencies while essay/narratives were used to Analyze Data from the Interview. The findings from the Study revealed that Unsteady Power Supply, Inadequate/Low Bandwidth of Internet Access, Unqualified and Unskilled Staff, Copyright Issue, and Inadequate Fund were the major Problems Affecting Digitization of Local Content Resources. Based on the findings, the following Recommendations were made: Steady power supply should be ensured by keeping a sound generator set stand by or using solar energy power supply; Provision of reliable internet and internet access to ensure easy and speedy retrieval of library resources; Installation of strong anti-virus programs in the systems to guard against virus from attacking the files; deployment of more qualified staff and their training and re-training to keep them informed of the new technological trends; appropriate authorities should develop copyright policy for the local content resources, to encourage authors to willingly submit their work for digitization; authorities concerned should ensure that adequate fund is made readily available before commencing the project. They should also seek for grants from available donors or advertise for individual or co-operate sponsorship; finally, library administrators should set up editorial and monitoring team. The editorial team should edit the works selected for digitization and ensure that they are good enough to be uploaded in the net. The monitoring teams on the other hand should supervise each stage of the digitization process to ensure that it is properly done.