PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PRACTICES OF LIBRARIANS ON CYBERSECURITY INCIDENCES IN DIGITAL INFORMATION SERVICE DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated preparedness and response practices of librarians on cybersecurity incidences in digital information services delivery in university libraries in Katsina State, Nigeria. Three (3) research questions guided the study. These questions included what types of cybersecurity incidence are experienced in digital information service delivery by university libraries in Katsina state? What are the preparatory mechanisms adopted to prevent cybersecurity incidence in digital information service delivery in university libraries in Katsina State? What are the response practices adopted to mitigate cybersecurity incidence in digital information service delivery by university libraries in Katsina state? The study employed descriptive survey design and the population of the study comprised of all the One Hundred and Six (106) librarians in all the four (4) university libraries in Katsina State. Total enumeration sampling technique was used to select all the 106 librarians as the sample size for the study. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection and was validated by experts in the fields and reliability result was .872. The data was analyzed using simple frequency Tables, Percentages, Means and Standard deviation. The findings showed that university libraries in Katsina State face widespread cybersecurity issues, primarily unauthorized access and network failures. Additionally, the study found that although some preparatory measures, such as digital resource management planning and software updates, have been initiated, key areas like firewall protection, staff training and vulnerability assessments are still lacking highlighting the urgent need for targeted training and strategic support to enhance digital service delivery and security across these libraries. It was concluded that while university libraries in Katsina State have provided some foundational cybersecurity protocols, their overall preparedness and response capabilities remain insufficient to address the evolving landscape of digital threats. The study recommended that University libraries in Katsina State should strengthen their cybersecurity monitoring systems to prevent common issues like unauthorized access and network failures, improve the adoption of cybersecurity preventive measures, particularly strengthening password policies, increasing user education on cybersecurity best practices and among others.