The Digital Abyss

Assessing the Preservation Crisis of Electronic Journals in Pakistan's Higher Education Landscape

Abstract

Preservation of ejournals is important for long-term access. Yet, little is known about these practices in the developing world. This study aims to investigates ejournal preservation practices in university libraries of Pakistan. Data were collected through a survey from 63 public universities. Results revealed a passive implementation of these practices. Majority of institutions possessed digital content including ejournals, but a majority of them were not archiving ejournals. Very few were rarely arching them while merely 1.7% were sometimes archiving them. None of the surveyed institutions had proper preservation practices. No significant differences were reported based on institutional type or geographical location, depicting a countrywide negligence related to preserving ejournals. Findings are interpreted through Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory. This consistent negligence in terms of preserving ejournals may be linked to the lower perceived advantage, higher complexity, and limited observability. The study provides first baseline evidence related to ejournal preservation in Pakistan. It also provides workable recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders to play their role in developing the situation.