Assessment of the Capability of the University of Zambia Library in Providing Digital Curation and Preservation to its Digital Content

Abstract

This research was undertaken to assess the capability of the University of Zambia Library in providing digital curation and preservation to its digital content. The general objective of the study was to assess the capability of the library in providing digital curation and preservation. The specific objectives were: To assess the technical infrastructure supporting digital curation and preservation at the University of Zambia Library; To assess the library staff competencies in providing digital curation and preservation at the University of Zambia Library; To find out the challenges faced by the University of Zambia Library in digital curation and preservation. The study employed a mixed method design to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. 30 library staff were purposively sampled and given questionnaires. The acting institutional repository manager was sampled as the key informant and was interviewed on the topic. Quantitative data was analysed descriptively using SPSS and excel while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis and presented thematically. The study found that there was a high-level awareness of the digital curation and preservation concepts among the library staff members as most of them attained a bachelor’s degree in library and information science. The study findings also showed that the library had inadequate technical infrastructure for digital curation and preservation. The study further showed that the library staff had sufficient competencies or skills required for digital curation and preservation and need training in new technologies. The study also found that lack of funding, technological obsolescence, lack of institutional commitment and inadequate staff expertise were the major challenges to digital curation and preservation. The study recommended that the library should consider digital curation and preservation as one of the primary responsibilities in order to ensure current and future access to digital collections by establishing an independent institutional repository department for managing digital content. It was also recommended that the University should sponsor librarians to attend local and international workshops, conferences, trainings and seminars specific to digital curation and preservation in order to acquire the required skills. The study also recommended that the university management should fund the library sufficiently to enable it purchase new hardware and software technology to replace the obsolete existing technology.