Disaster Preparedness in Academic Libraries in Kenya: Case of Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library, University of Nairobi

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate disaster preparedness in academic libraries in Kenya using case study of Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library University of Nairobi. The objectives of the study were to: find out the policies on disaster preparedness, establish strategies that can be used in mitigating disasters, find out the level of staff preparedness in the event of a disaster, establish the best methods available for recovering damaged information resources in print and non- print and establish the challenges faced by Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library in the implementation of disaster management. The theoretical framework applied in this study was the social capital theory. The study adopted mixed methods design where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The target population for this study was 15,334 from the University of Nairobi academic staff, library staff and students. The sample size of the study was 343 respondents. The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling techniques where simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used. Data was collected using interview schedule guides and questionnaires. In qualitative analysis, the data was assigned categories and the categories were assigned numerical code which were entered into the computer. In quantitative analysis, the data was converted to numerical codes representing measurement variables. The statistical package for social sciences version 21 was used to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. The findings of the study indicated that disaster management policies were not known by the respondents. In addition, there was no disaster preparedness carried out on the respondents. The study concluded that academic libraries face a number of disasters that need to be carefully managed by putting in place the best mitigation measures. The study recommended continuous training of personnel at all levels, keys for emergency doors to be kept in a central place,

top management should provide support in terms of funding and the library should purchase equipment for recovering information resources both in print and non-print. This study is useful to the top management of the academic institutions in policy formulation that concern disaster management of libraries of their institutions.