Local contents and the development of open access institutional repositories in Nigeria University libraries: Challenges, strategies and scholarly implications

Abstract

Purpose

This study seeks to examine the management of local content materials for open access institutional repositories in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 85 librarians from seven government funded universities in South East Nigeria were used for the study.

Findings

From the findings 15 local content materials were identified as relevant for publication in institutional repositories. Similarly a major method of acquiring these local contents is by encouraging staff to deposit their publications in the university libraries. It was also found out that providing a subject index to the local contents and their digitization were effective methods of organizing the materials for the institutional repository. The findings also showed that an increase in the visibility of the authors, promotion of university ranking and efficient dissemination of research findings were among the benefits of publishing in institutional repositories. The problems and strategies of publishing in institutional repositories were also identified through the findings.

Practical implications

This study will serve as a useful guide for university administrators and librarians who are interested in developing their institutional repositories using local contents available to them. It will also be of great value to project managers who are engaged in the digitization of their local contents.

Social implications

Research works generated in Nigeria and other developing countries are poorly disseminated and therefore lack global visibility. The publication of these research findings in institutional repositories of individual universities will not only improve the visibility and utilization of the research but will also increase the global ranking of the universities and researchers who have published the works in the repository.

Originality/value

This paper is on the use of local content information resources in building institutional repositories in Nigerian university libraries. These studies will be useful for university libraries, particularly in developing countries, that intend to build their institutional repositories.

Citation

Ezema, I.J. (2013), "Local contents and the development of open access institutional repositories in Nigeria University libraries: Challenges, strategies and scholarly implications", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 323-340. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831311329086