Title: Preservation and Accessibility to Private Collection of Islamic Scholars in Kano Metropolis
Author(s): Aminu Habibu
Publication Year: 2021; Volume 16, Issue 1, pages 84-91

The study investigates the collection of Islamic scholars in Kano metropolis and how they arernpreserved and accessed. The study also investigates the challenges faced by the Islamicrnscholars in the preservation and access to their collections and the strategies to put in placernto address the identified challenges. Purposive sampling technique was used in which thernleaders of the three major Islamic sects in Kano namely: Tijjaniyya Qadiriyya and Izalarnwere selected as the respondents for the study based on the size of their collectionsrnapproachability and leadership position. Personal interview and observation were used asrnthe instruments for data collection. The result shows that the collections of the Islamicrnscholars were housed in separate rooms with proper care and handling. The Islamic scholarsrnallowed access to their collection to family members trusted friends and disciples. The majorrnchallenges associated with the preservation and access to their collections were absence ofrnmodern facilities for preservation and access lack of involvement of the Government andrnlibrarians in providing assistance and professional advice to the Islamic scholars on modernrnmethods of preservation and access. The strategies to address the problems include seekingrnadvice from professional librarians liaise with libraries and documentation centers forrnadvice and training on basic routines of library services employment of librarians andrnacquisition of modern library facilities for proper preservation and access to their collection.