COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRESERVATION METHODS IN THREE SELECTED HOTELS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

The study is geared towards comparing electronic preservation methods in three selected hotels in Bayelsa State. Four research objectives were formulated to guide the study bordering on the types of records created, kept, and maintained by the selected hotels. Their records retention policies, their electronic preservation methods, and challenges encountered in the preservation of their records. Works of literature related to the objectives of the study were reviewed. The study population comprised a total of 18 personnel in the three selected hotels in Bayelsa state (6 staff in Majels Hotels, 6 in Engoye Hotels, and 6 in De-Alamis Hotels); they are both in the senior and junior categories responsible for handling records in the hotels. From the study population of 18, a Total Enumerative Sampling Technique was used; this implies that the entire population of 18 was used for the study. Out of the 18 copies of the questionnaire administered, 18 copies were completed by the respondents and found useable for analysis, giving a very high return rate of 100%. The questionnaire formed the major instrument for collecting the needed data; the questionnaires were distributed and retrieved without losing any. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages and frequencies. The findings revealed that the preservation methods employed by the 3 hotels under study were: "Installation of water alarms", "Moderate lighting"; "Records areas are cleaned and dusted regularly"; "Periodic fumigation"; and "Monitoring of abuse and mishandling". The study recommended that qualified librarians should be employed to handle records maintenance, security, and preservation of records in Hotels in Bayelsa state.