Cloud computing as a disaster management tool for documentary heritage management

reflections by the National University of Lesotho

Abstract

Archives exist to collect and manage the memory of nations, including documentary heritage management. The transformation of the archives from the physical to digital format is even more imperative in the digital age. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usage of cloud computing as a disaster management tool for documentary heritage management from the perspective of the National University of Lesotho’s Library (NUL) digitisation project. This single qualitative case study used interviews as a technique for data collection. Data was collected from the NUL digitisation project team consisting of seven purposively selected staff members. The analysis of data was done manually and thematically in accordance with the research objectives. The findings of the study revealed that the NUL understands what disaster management entails, although there are no proper mechanisms in place for guiding the management of disasters. Furthermore, the results showed that, currently, there is no policy framework guiding the management of disasters at the institutional level. Additionally, the findings showed that cloud computing may indeed be used as a disaster management tool because of its associated benefits. The study makes a meaningful and original contribution to the body of knowledge by recommending a framework for the adoption of cloud computing as a disaster management tool for documentary heritage management in libraries.