Planning and execution: Digitization of an endangered material in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library (HOL), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, contains a huge collection of native/customary court records from the Western Region during the colonial years (1900 – 1963). Although this collection contains highly sensitive information, it provides information about the customs and traditions of the Yoruba groups during the colonial period, giving a rare and unique facet of the Yoruba culture and history between 1900 -1960s. This rare manuscript of about twelve thousand volumes is unique, irreplaceable and the information provided cannot be obtained anywhere else in the country. Unfortunately, many of the volumes are in poor condition due to age, use, while some have been damaged by insects and humidity. Hence the urgent need to digitize the collection and preserve it for posterity.

Thus to facilitate the long-time preservation and accessibility of this collection, our approach in the planning is to focus on three key areas which were work plan for digitization, cost evaluation and sourcing for funding. For the work plan, the activities identified to be carried out include cleaning and fumigation, binding, salvaging and restoration of the deteriorated volumes. We also plan to sort out the collection by divisions and chronological listing. Thereafter the collection will be relabelled, relocated and reorganized on the shelves. Metadata will then be created for the digitized copies and uploaded on HOL’s website. Furthermore, we evaluated the cost implications of the various stages by interacting with experts in preservation and conservation of library collections. The last stage is where we are present, to put up a proposal to send to funding agencies that are interested in funding endangered materials.

By executing this plan, we will be able to conserve and preserve this endangered material in a digitized format that could be easily accessed online and be a form of reference for historians, legal professionals, researchers, and the general populace for future use. Therefore through this presentation, we aim to share our experience on the longtime preservation and digitization process of this endangered material.