Digitization of Library Resources in Kashim Ibrahim Library: Processes, Challenges and the Impact on the Services of the Library

Digitization of Library Resources in Kashim Ibrahim Library: Processes, Challenges and the Impact on the Services of the Library. 

ABSTRACT

The paper examines the concept of digitization, approaches in setting up digitization projects, and the processes involved in the digitization of thesis and dissertations in Kashim Ibrahim Library, To elicit the necessary information needed, the study adopts documentary research method, while the oral interview is used in gathering the data.  

The study discovers copyright issues, difficulty in digitizing some materials, technical support and security; the constant change of hardware and software as the challenges facing the digitization project. In view of the challenges identified, recommendations were proffered. 

These include; migration, emulation, use of anti-virus among others. The research concludes that digitization of library resources in the 21st Century can revitalize the libraries as an information provider. 

INTRODUCTION

In the 21st Century, universities in Nigeria have embarked on integration of technology in their operations. This serves as a mechanism for improvement and development,

especially, in a situation where attention is drawn to the academic contents and ways of digitizing and preserving them for future use. Libraries have long played an essential role in containing, preserving, and sharing information. 

Many information technologies have been created over the years. The library itself has the technology to handles information storage and retrieval.

University libraries are fully involved in this development as they are the heart of the University, being that they house the intellectual resources of the institutions. This effort to digitize the intellectual property of the institution is what is known as digitization (Eke, 2011). 

Part of the emerging role of academic libraries is the implementation of institutional repositories (IRs), digital collections that capture and preserve the intellectual output of university communities (Crow, 2002).

A repository established by a particular university or other research institution is known as an Institutional repository. It can be intended to collect and preserve – in digital form – the intellectual output of an institution such, as Theses, Dissertations, Seminar papers, Conference proceedings, Preprints, Post-prints, working papers, or technical reports. 

It can also contain the institution’s digital library, the collection of printed and manuscript documents, public archives, and graphic material,

originating from the institution or elsewhere, that the university has converted to digital form for use within the university, and generally available to anyone. It can also contain the administrative output of the institution, as reports, directories, and local archival documentation.

REFERENCES

Abdulkadir, A. (2011). The use of D-space Software in the Preservation And Management of
Library Resources. paper presented at the Kashim Ibrahim Library Seminar on 6 June 2011.
Alegbeleye, G.O. (2009). Avoiding technological quicksand: coming to grips with the
preservation of digital information in Nigeria. Libraries Create Future: Building on Cultural
Heritage. Paper presented at the 47th Annual National Conference & AGM of Nigerian
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Asogwa, B. E. (2011). Digitization of Archival Collections In Africa For Scholarly
Communication: Issues, Strategies, and Challenges Library Philosophy and Practice
Besser, H. (1999). Implications in digitizing Special Collections Materials: the institution,
scholarship, interoperability, longebility. Retrieved from:http://sunsite.berkeley.ed/imaging/Databases/Conservation/RBMS99/ppframe.html
Crow, R. (2002). The case for institutional repositories: a SPARC position paper. Retrievedfrom http://www.arl.org.sparc/IR/ir.html
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(2),163-167.

CSN Team.

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