Digital preservation of information sources at academic libraries in Jordan: an employee’s perspective
ISSN: 0143-5124
Article publication date: 12 January 2022
Issue publication date: 20 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Digital preservation requires new skills and collaboration among library staff to maintain long-term access to information resources. Digital content and digital technologies pose a serious challenge to information institutions to continue to select, preserve and access information resources. However, there is an urgent need to increase awareness of the new trends in the partnership between research communities and academic libraries; there is also a need for new digital preservation-related skills among librarians. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the benefits, importance, requirements and challenges of digital preservation in academic libraries in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire was disseminated to 150 library staff working at the 10 public universities in Jordan, with 133 questionnaires suitable to analyze with a response rate of (88.6%).
Findings
The results indicate a moderate perception of the benefits and importance of digital preservation, as well as the requirements and challenges in academic libraries in Jordan to carry out the digital preservation process. This indicated the importance of increasing the academic libraries' – specifically academic libraries in Jordan – awareness of the vast and important benefits of digital preservation to maintain long-term access to information. It was noted that factors such as sex, experience, educational level and specialization did not affect the results.
Practical implications
The findings will provide insights for other academic libraries on how to plan and develop preservation policies to maintain access to information.
Social implications
Access to information is a human right that contributes to the advocacy of sustainable development, and hence, digital preservation can facilitate long-term availability and accessibility to information.
Originality/value
This paper provides insights and practical solutions for academic libraries in response to technological development and the change requirements. It will help academic libraries handle and cope with the challenges of providing distance library services over digital channels.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was partially supported by the National Library in Jordan. The authors thank their colleagues there, who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research. The authors also thank colleagues at the academic libraries in Jordan for their contribution and insight in this research, although they may not agree with all of the interpretations/conclusions of this paper.
Citation
Awamleh, M.A. and Hamad, F. (2022), "Digital preservation of information sources at academic libraries in Jordan: an employee’s perspective", Library Management, Vol. 43 No. 1/2, pp. 172-191. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2021-0088
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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