Abstract
This study examined digital preservation of information resources and utilization
in libraries in Rivers State owned universities. Four objectives and four research
questions guided the study. Descriptive research design was adopted for the
study. The population of 59 library staff, which comprised 11 professional and 22
paraprofessionals making it a total of 32 library staff from Rivers State
University: while 9 professional and 18 paraprofessionals making it a total of 27
library staff from Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Census sampling
technique was used in which the entire population was used as sample size for
the study; hence the population was too small. Self-structured instrument titled
“Digital Preservation of Information Resources and Utilization in University
Libraries (DPIRUULQ) was developed”. The instrument was validated by experts.
The reliability of the instrument was determined through test-retest method, in
which the initial and retest scores were correlated using Pearson's Product
Moment Correlation which yielded a reliability co-efficient of 0.81. Mean and
Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions. The findings
revealed that the libraries preserve various types of digital resources. A range of
digital preservation software such as Dura Cloud, Archives Space, E-Prints, and
D-Space are employed to ensure the longevity and accessibility of these
resources. It was recommended among others that university libraries should
regularly update the range of digital information resources preserved to meet the
evolving academic and research needs of users.
Keys: Digital Preservation, Information Resources, Utilization, University
Libraries
Publication Date: 2026-07-31