Alternative scholarly communication: management issues in a Ghanaian university

Abstract

Purpose

This paper sets out to present what the KNUST Library has done to introduce alternative scholarly communication in the form of an institutional repository to the University.

Design/methodology/approach

The study discusses management issues like agreement on policy to govern it, its acceptance by management and faculty as well as library personnel, and the software to be used that came into play along with challenges when the institutional repository was being planned and implemented.

Findings

The paper indicates that the introduction of the KNUSTSpace institutional repository has brought several benefits to the researchers in the University by offering them an alternative to the traditional means for scholarly communication and through that exposing their research to the world and the benefits that come with that. The University has also been show‐cased.

Originality/value

The paper clearly explains the key management issues encountered in the process of setting up the institutional repository and how they were tackled successfully. The paper will therefore be of assistance to libraries contemplating setting up institutional repositories.

Citation

Asamoah‐Hassan, H. (2010), "Alternative scholarly communication: management issues in a Ghanaian university", Library Management, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 420-426. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121011066171