African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science

Fostering Cybersecurity in Institutional Repositories: A Case of Nigerian Universities

2023-05-16T11:17:19+00:00

Some Nigerian universities are digitising their scholarly heritage and the high risk of loss or attack of digital records due to viruses and cyber hacks is worrisome, with far reaching consequences on the confidentiality, integrity and availability triad. This paper examines cybersecurity and institutional repository (IR) protection in Nigeria, highlighting the impact of cybersecurity and risk management. The study explores the five core frameworks of cybersecurity with emphasis on strategies for olicy development and management of risk. It also analyses security threats through feedback from professionals in the referenced domain. A manual assessment was conducted with all Nigeria institutional repositories registered on opendoar.org using qualitative descriptive analysis. The sample size of the study consists of 88 librarians and information, communication and technology workers. A structured questionnaire on threats and risks of institutional repositories in Nigeria were distributed and 62(70.4%) responded. Results show that, of 198 federal, state and private universities, only 29 (14.6%) have established institutional repositories with slow adoption rate of 12.5% from 2009 to 2020, and 2019 having the highest established IR at a growth rate of 24%. Total number of items uploaded was 22,828. This paper found that DSpace open repository software had 79.3% use among institutions, while 26 institutions (89.6%) have uploaded journal articles. Hardware and software threats stood out prominently as leading causes of sub-optimal repository performance. Evaluated against an assigned weighted point system (of 31) derived from number of technical workers in IR domain, data reveals malware and malicious code as the biggest risk to repository resources, with 30.6%, followed by password attacks at 28% and IP theft 27.8% points respectively. However, hardening security systems guarding institutional hardware, software and infrastructure such as; management of identity access and operation, secure network application and data, could reduce incidents of cyber-crime. The research study recommends the development of modern cybersecurity framework for university libraries, mechanism for data defenses and redundancy strategies such as decentralisation of data and networks to mitigate the risk of vulnerability to attack and reduce loss from cyber incidents.

The Influence of Archives in Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of Botswana and Namibia

2023-05-16T11:21:48+00:00

Archival materials are repeatedly consulted to settle disputes before the courts of law. The main purpose of the paper is to examine the use of archival materials in the ultimate settlement of the border dispute between Botswana and Namibia over the disputed ownership of the Sedudu/Kasikili Island. This paper took a qualitative approach where documentary review of archival materials and other documentary sources were used to answer the research questions. The findings indicate that archival materials in their various forms such as drawings, maps, plans, reports, scientific documents, and correspondence by colonial authorities played a significant role as evidence that informed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to legally settle the boundary dispute between Botswana and Namibia. This paper also established the need for archivists to preserve the reliability and authenticity of records overtime for them to be trusted as evidence. The fact that the case was solved with access to archival materials among other evidence presented, is an indication of the importance of archives in the society. Although this paper contributes to literature on the role of archives in the resolution of boundary conflicts, it is limited in that the findings are restricted to a review of archival materials in the holdings of the Botswana National Archives and Records Service (BNARS) exclusive of archival materials from the Namibia National archives.

Discharging Records Management Activities Using Artificial Intelligence at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa

2023-05-16T11:31:12+00:00

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been highly dominant universally in the wake of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 4IR has to do with the application of Internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, big data, blockchain technology, intelligent robotic machines, and AI for the management of records. AI can be used to perform records management activities faster than human intelligence (HI). The study sought to investigate how records management activities can be discharged using artificial intelligence (AI) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. The study investigated the state of records at CSIR and identified records management activities that can be managed through AI and intelligent robotic machine. Convergent mixed-methods research was conducted, and data were collected using interviews and questionnaires. Data were analysed thematically and statistically and presented in tables and figures. The study reveals that AI can be used to discharge records management functions at the CSIR throughout the life cycle of records, which includes the creation, digitisation, classification, storage, maintenance, and retrieval of records. The study proposed a framework that may assist the CSIR to use AI for records management in support of service delivery. It is hoped that the framework proposed may serve as a benchmark and guideline for the implementation of AI in archives and records management industry.

Ghanaian University Libraries’ Preparedness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

2023-05-16T11:37:28+00:00

As the world is experiencing technological development, the 4IR is taking prominence in the provision of information to library clients. In a doctoral study which investigated performance management in Ghanaian university libraries, one of the objectives explored was how the fourth industrial revolution has affected the performance of Ghanaian university libraries. Using a mixed methods research approach, the views of 218 university librarians were elicited from selected universities in Ghana. The study found that a significant proportion of Ghanaian university libraries did not apply any 4IR technologies although they were aware of their benefits. Furthermore, the few libraries which did, only applied the aspects of Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity and cloud computing. Moreover, most of the libraries were not adequately prepared for implementing 4IR technologies. The study recommends that in order for Ghanaian libraries to remain relevant, address clients’ changing needs in terms of information provision and yield high performance, library management should strive to adopt and use most of the 4IR technologies.

Evaluation of User Education Programmes and Resources used by Undergraduates of Two Selected Federal University Libraries in South East, Nigeria

2023-05-16T12:09:24+00:00

This study evaluates user education programmes of two federal university libraries in South East, Nigeria, for enhanced access and use of digital resources. A population of 6249 undergraduate users was studied using descriptive survey. A sample size of 376 was determined using Taro Yemen’s formula. Data was obtained via questionnaire and quantitatively examined using mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study reveal provision of library orientation ( X=3.65), course-related instruction ( X=3.06) individualized instruction (X =2.87) and library tours ( X=2.67) to users of the libraries under study; the grand mean of 2.93 (SD=1.00) indicates that the programmes enhance users’ access and use of digital resources to a high extent. This notwithstanding, inconsistent power supply and a lack of ICT infrastructure were identified challenges to the success of the programmes in the study area. However, a supportive environment and creative teaching strategies were suggested for the programmes’ effectiveness.

Anti-Corruption Investigators’ Perception of the Role of Records and Records Management in Nigeria

2023-05-16T12:16:41+00:00

This study aims to explore records’ contributions to anti-corruption investigations. The study answers the question: what is the perception of anti- corruption investigators on the role of records and records management in their work? The goal is to produce new knowledge of the role records plays in investigating corruption related offences. It presents findings from a qualitative explorative case study. Fifteen Nigeria’s anti-corruption investigators were interviewed in the year 2020. Interview data collated are analysed using thematic analysis. The study reveals that adequate records alone cannot ensure accountability despite the nexus between proper recordkeeping and corruption. Enhancing the integrity and authenticity of records as the most acceptable accountability tool will add significant value for ease of use by accountability forums.

Internal Processes as Determinants of Customer Perceived Service Quality: A Case of Selected Public Libraries in Botswana

2023-05-16T12:23:54+00:00

There is increasing awareness that attaining the ideals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires effective support of government. Public libraries that are well-supported and well-managed provide quality information services and have a role to play in contributing to improved outcomes of the SDGs. Public Libraries under the aegis of Botswana National Library Service (BNLS) could not be said to lack good support of Government. They ought therefore to be seen to be working towards attaining the envisioned sustainable development by providing quality information service adopting measures to attract users’ positive word-of-mouth, loyalty and repatronage behaviours. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which BNLS provides quality information services from users’ perspective, and to establish those internal factors that influence such users’ experiences. Anchored on the Gap Theory, the study used mixed method approach to collect data from two sets of respondents. A stratified random sampling technique identified 254 registered users, from whom quantitative data were collected through a modified self-completion SERVQUAL instrument. Qualitative data were collected from 18 frontline employees (FLEs) through face-to-face interviews and document analysis, so as to account for users’ perceptions in the quantitative phase. The findings revealed that the quality of service at the BNLS branches is appreciably low on the dimensions users consider important. An average quality gap of -1.2 was realised, indicating that the quality of service delivered fell short of what customers expected. Qualitative data further revealed four factors in the service environment that contribute significantly to customers’ low perception of the quality of service. The study concludes by recommending a realignment of internal processes to ensure good quality service to patrons, and in the process enhance the libraries’ ability to help Botswana attain sustainable development goals.

Embedded Librarian Services: An Information Marketing Strategy Applied at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

2023-05-16T12:36:40+00:00

This study is necessitated by an increasing number of resources available in the virtual environment which is affecting patron’s use of library physically to access information. The purpose of the study was to assess the information marketing strategy that an embedded librarian employed at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). Specifically, the study aimed to identify the role of an embedded librarian at the institution; determine the channels through which embedded librarians reach out to the faculties and establish the challenges hindering embedded librarian services. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from twenty (20) embedded librarians across ten (10) schools in FUTO. Eighteen (18) copies of the questionnaire designed for this study were duly filled and returned. The study applied inferential statistics using t-test to analyse the data obtained from the survey carried out on embedded library / librarians. Findings show social media, consultation, visits and orientation as some of the channels through which information was disseminated. The findings also showed that inadequate time of operation, lack of cooperation, lack of stated time for consultation, insufficient power supply as some of the challenges. The paper concludes that information marketing and advocacy of library services by librarians is a veritable tool required to deliver information to the domain of those who need it and also bring back library users.