Using Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Safeguarding the Libraries from Threats of Insurgency in Nigeria

Libraries were set up to cater for the educational, cultural, research, recreational and informational needs of their particular community users. They are established to safeguard all human cultural heritages, tangible as well as intangible. Most of the time libraries try hard to protect the intellectual content of the libraries against artificial and natural disasters. But apart from the inevitable natural causes of decay as well as natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, wildfires, and tsunamis, another worst danger is the threat posed by the insurgents, terrorists, criminal group, and angry crowds. Insurgents can as well be library patrons who employ political weapon often using religion to cover up on their terrorist activities. The library staffers, users, information resources, facilities, as well as the library building itself are not safe due to the fear of unknown which need to be protected. This calls for concerted efforts on the part of the library authorities to get prepared for any tragedy, which can happen at any time and unexpectedly too. With the advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) through the use of sophisticated storage devices, Closed Circuit Television-CCTV, 3M/ Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) library security gates system, and cloud computing technologies coupled with manual security systems will strengthen the library security as well as ameliorate the devastating consequences of terror attacks. This study employed the systematic review method in carrying this research where related literatures were reviewed on how ICTs contribute toward safeguarding the libraries. The findings revealed that insurgence posed a serious threat to the library, its users, staff and the collections; while manual security systems is not enough to curtail the nefarious acts of insurgence; and using ICT security systems in checkmating any criminal activities will really help. The study based on the findings recommends that: the library should constitute a disaster management team/committee, which will not only serve as disaster monitor within the library; adequately train should be given to both staffers and security guards on counterterrorism; and library should leverage on cloud computing technologies in order to safeguarding the library resources from annihilation by the insurgence.

Keywords: Libraries, Insurgency, Surveillance Cameras, Cloud Computing and ICTs.