Assessing digital preservation training needs in cultural heritage institutions in Saudi Arabia

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Albushra, Ghaliah and Innocenti, Perla (2025) Assessing digital preservation training needs in cultural heritage institutions in Saudi Arabia. Information Research. ISSN 1368-1613 (In Press)

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Abstract

Introduction We discuss an investigation into the digital preservation training needs of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage institutions. In countries where digital preservation is in its infancy, such as Saudi Arabia, assessing training needs is vital to provide training programmes tailored to digital preservation specialists’ distinctive needs. Method An exploratory qualitative case study design was chosen, involving selected managers and practitioners from relevant cultural heritage institutions in Saudi Arabia. In this paper we report on the online survey with staff members at King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), King Abdul Aziz Public Library, King Fahad National Library, Saudi National Centre for Archives and Records, Makkah Centre for Archives and Records, King Abdullah University Library. Analysis Data from 37 survey respondents were analysed using the statistical package SPSS and Braun and Clarke’s six steps for thematic analysis; NVivo software was used to assist with coding and themes development. Results The research highlights factors supporting training needs and skill enhancement in digital preservation training practices in Saudi Arabia cultural heritage institutions. Findings help fill a regional gap in a predominantly Western-centric literature on digital preservation training, and offer insights for cultural heritage information management and international digital humanities research. Conclusion To safeguard long term digital preservation of cultural heritage, training needs of digital preservation specialists in Saudi Arabia and beyond must be adequately addressed, planned for, financially and institutionally supported, adequately communicated, and promoted.

ORCID iDs

Albushra, Ghaliah and Innocenti, Perla ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1664-309X;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)