Digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan

What is it about?

The digital contents (d-contents) are vulnerable to various threats either natural or manmade. Digital preservation is the plethora of a wide array of strategies necessary for the long-term preservation of digital objects. This study was carried out to assess the digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan. A quantitative survey based on a structured questionnaire was carried out to conduct the study. The questionnaire containing two sets of strategies (general and technical) was distributed amongst the whole population and received 90% response rate. Overall, progressive implementation of general digital preservation practices was noted in these libraries like checking the digital collections for viruses, keeping the digital media in fire/water/theft proof locations, restricting unauthorized access, maintaining ideal humidity and temperature, and checking the digital media for functionality. Amongst the technical practices, only replication was in practice at a progressive rate, followed by metadata recording and media refreshing that was sometimes practiced in these libraries. The other technical practices were rarely or never practiced in these libraries. Significant variances in general and technical digital preservation practices were noted based on their physical locations (regional distribution). The study contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world. The findings stress the need for national and institutional policies, funding streams and skill enhancement of library staff. The study fills the literature gap and contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.

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Photo by Homa Appliances on Unsplash

Photo by Homa Appliances on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The terrestrial mapping of the digital preservation studies affirms that except a few studies, this area has more prominently been covered in technologically advanced countries and the developing countries seem to be somehow neglected. A similar situation was witnessed in the context of Pakistan where a lack of studies was found on the investigation of different facets of digital preservation. Through investigation of the current practices in university libraries of Pakistan, this study comprehensively addresses the phenomenon and fills the literature gap.

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