Vulnerabilities Facing Digital Content at the University of Nairobi and Catholic University of Eastern Africa Academic Libraries

Abstract

An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum, and to support research by university faculty and students. Increasingly, these very sacrosanct information centres to the University mandate are faced with security threats on digital content. These threats include but are not limited to computer-assisted fraud, espionage, sabotage and vandalism. The study objective of this study was to examine the vulnerabilities facing digital content at the University of Nairobi and Catholic University of Eastern Africa academic libraries. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population in this study were 2 Information and Communications Technology Managers and 10 ICT technicians, 2 Chief Librarian and 20 Library Staff. The study had a target population of 34 respondents. A census was used to arrive at a sample of 34 respondents from the two university academic libraries. Data was collected by use of semi-structured questionnaires, with both closed and open ended questions. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies and percentages. The key findings of the study are that the university lack proper disaster management on digital content information materials. There is Lack of reliable infrastructure and resources in the library, lack of enough funding and sometimes delayed provision of funds for procurement of necessary computing equipment thus hindering the establishment of disaster recovery centres, lack of programmes to guide on training and training needs, unclear policies and guidelines in the University. The study provides several recommendations that would improve the current state of disaster planning and preparedness. The university should train and retrain its core staff to ensure that they are updated with current knowledge and skills that focuses on ever changing security threats to digital security and preparedness. The institutions management should give provision of adequate funds for continuous training. The institution should have policies to guide on passwords, privileges and have disaster recovery procedure and universities should explore more methods of ensuring Security of digital contents.

Keywords: Academic libraries, Vulnerabilities, Digital content, University of Nairobi, Catholic University of Eastern Africa

DOI: 10.7176/IKM/11-4-02

Publication date:May 31^st 2021