Disaster Management Practices in two Academic Libraries in South Western Nigeria

Abstract

Disasters pose significant threats to the sustainability of academic libraries, often resulting in loss of resources, disruption of services, and safety concerns for staff and users. Despite growing awareness of disaster risks, many Nigerian academic libraries remain ill-prepared for effective disaster management. This study investigated disaster preparedness and management practices in two academic libraries in South-Western Nigeria, focusing on a population of 87 librarians. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation) were used to analyse the responses. Findings revealed that although librarians were highly aware of potential disasters such as fire, flooding, and digital system failures, disaster preparedness in both libraries remained largely reactive. Preventive measures, such as fire extinguishers and CCTV systems, were available, but neither institution had a written disaster management policy or conducted regular drills. Key challenges identified included inadequate funding, lack of staff training, and weak institutional commitment to disaster risk reduction. The study concluded that awareness of disaster risks alone is insufficient to ensure preparedness, particularly in the absence of policies, training, and financial investment. It recommended the development of comprehensive disaster management frameworks, regular staff training and drills, dedicated budgetary allocations, inter-institutional collaboration, and integration of disaster preparedness into librarians’ professional development. Strengthening disaster resilience in academic libraries is essential to safeguard information resources, ensure service continuity, and align with global disaster risk reduction strategies.