Beauty from ashes: aftermath of fire disaster in University of Jos Library, Jos-Nigeria

Abstract

This study was on a real-life fire incident in a university library. The study was designed to investigate the aftermath of a fire disaster in the library. The qualitative case study was adopted as the research design. Data were obtained from the mass media (online newspapers), websites, textbooks and interviews with a few library staff through a purposive sampling. Narrative analysis was adopted to explore the meanings behind the statements extracted from the data. By examining the statements, valuable conclusions were extracted about the fire disaster and its aftermath. Among the study’s findings, it was revealed that the fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault. Also, it was revealed that nothing could be salvaged from the library after the disaster because most of the resources and facilities were burnt to ashes. Findings also revealed that the University launched the operation “Beauty from ashes” to raise funds to restore the library. Moreover, findings showed that it took about three years for the library to be restored; the library has taken some precautionary steps towards averting the recurrence of the disaster. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that: the Library Management should locate and study the disaster management plan of the library; the content of the disaster plan should be strictly implemented; more fire-fighting equipment should be acquired in the library; the library staff and some volunteer members of the University community should be educated about the functions of the fire-fighting equipment;  they should also be trained on how to use the equipment. Finally, it was recommended that periodic drills be organised for some volunteer staff of the library, and other volunteer members of the University community as part of disaster preparedness in the library.