Publication:

Current trends in preservation of digital information in modern libraries: a case of Mount Kenya University

Digital information is an essential resource in our knowledge economy, valuable for research and education, cultural activities and public policy. However, digital information is inherently fragile and often at risk of loss. It access of these valuable information in the future wholly depends on its preservation actions taken today. The practice of preservation of information begins, not when an information resource has begun to deteriorate from its use, abuse or age, but with its creation. Each resource ultimate value to the collection should be considered at the time of acquisition and initial preservation plans made at that time. This study intends to establish the current trends modern libraries has taken in order to preserve digital information resources. It aims to focus on the innovations Mount Kenya University has undertaken to ensure that digital information resource are preserved to enable valuable information resources continue to provide the much need knowledge to its users and its application to meet their information needs. This study will be guided by the following objectives: first, to identify the different types of preservation methods used to preserve digital resource in Mount Kenya University library. Second, to examine the challenges faced in preservation of digital information resources and lastly, to establish the benefits achieved by Mount Kenya University library when digital resources are preserved. The study will employ a case study research which describes in details and allow an in-depth investigation into the current trends of preservation of digital information resources. In this study, the targets population will be all Mount Kenya University Library staff which totals up to 22 staff. Stratified random sampling technique will be used to obtain the sample population for study. The researchers will administer questionnaires in its data collection. This study will reveals the important of preservation of digital resource in a fast moving world of technology, consolidate the recommendations of past research papers in the context of digital information in the libraries and information environment. The paper will propose recommendations that take the theoretical issues raised in the past and propose a checklist, or prototype to allow libraries to implement a preservation strategy.