Perceptions of staff at the University of Dar es Salaam on establishing an archival repository

Abstract

An archival repository preserves essential evidence of an institution and provides information that promotes its mission internally and in its extended community, among others. However, despite the significance of such a facility, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is yet to establish its own. The absence of this facility always contributes to damage and loss of archival materials. As such, this study sought to establish the perceptions of staff towards its establishment. Specifically, the study sought to examine the perceived importance of its establishment among university staff. The study adopted a descriptive research design which adopted both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The study used a structured and standardised self-administered questionnaire with open and close-ended questions to gather data from 66 respondents. Along this method, interviews were conducted with 3 key informants while observations were used to note some of the resources available. The study’s quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 21 while content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. The key result has discovered the presence of archival collections in paper and electronic media, storage places and facilities. In addition, the study has found the presence of archival policy and some positive attitude towards its establishment. However, the study has found the presence of several barriers that include lack of staff training, lack of awareness among users of the presence and the importance of archival materials, and primitive methods of handling archival materials. In addition, the study reports that staff have inadequate archival collection management skills and expertise and that there is shortage of space. Based on these findings, the study concludes that UDSM has a favourable environment that supports the establishment of an archival repository. The study, therefore, recommends that UDSM should establish a formal archival repository and promulgate the existing university archival policy.