Disaster Management Awareness among Library Staff of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

Abstract

The increasing occurrence and severity of natural and human-induced disasters highlight the critical need for disaster management awareness across all sectors, including academic libraries. This study explores the level of disaster awareness and management among the staff of the Gabriel Afolabi Ojo Library at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), with a focus on their preparedness, understanding of risk assessment, and ability to mitigate and respond to disasters. NOUN, an open and distance learning institution, operates study centres nationwide, each with its own library. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire. Findings reveal a moderate (58.6%) level of awareness of potential disasters that could impact library operations. High majority of the staff indicated they can identify specific disasters that may affect the library, suggesting a high level of confidence in disaster identification. There are considerable shortcomings in current disaster management strategies, such as insufficient staff participation in training and disaster preparedness programs, the establishment of a dedicated disaster response team to enhance the library’s resilience to potential disasters.  The study concludes that while there is a general awareness of disasters within the Gabriel Afolabi Ojo Library, there is an urgent need for the library management to enhance disaster preparedness. This can be achieved by implementing the necessary disaster management frameworks and resources, recognizing that disasters can occur unexpectedly and at any time.