An assessment of information resources preservation in selected public university libraries in Tanzania

Abstract

The management of libraries and information resources includes the preservation and conservation of library information resources. They are even more important and necessary in countries with limited resources, where libraries must strike a balance between their needs and those of the growing number of students who want to use them. The purpose of this study was to assess the Information Resources Preservation in Selected Public University Libraries in Tanzania. A questionnaire was distributed to 170 library staff members from seven public universities under study. Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) was used to analyze the quantitative data from the questionnaires, while content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Findings of this study reveals the ways for preserving information resources, the causes of information resources deterioration, the challenges faced by library staff in preserving library information resources, and the suggested preservation approaches in selected Tanzanian public university libraries for the sustainable provision of information services. Due to persistent preservation challenges in public university libraries, the study concludes that ineffective preservation practices have a significant negative impact on library information services. To improve the preservation, conservation, accessibility, and usability of information resources, the establishment of a preservation consortium was suggested.