Sustainability of institutional repositories in selected public universities in Ghana

Abstract

Institutional repositories are increasingly being adopted by universities in Ghana to preserve and communicate research findings and intellectual outputs to audiences within and outside the institution. Nonetheless, there is a growing concern about the sustainability of these repositories. In view of this, the study investigated the managerial and technical issues that confront the sustainability of institutional repositories (IRs) of selected public universities in Ghana. The dynamics of innovation model and the diffusion of innovation theory served as the lens that guided the study. Eight hundred and thirty (830) respondents comprising of IR managers, Library Staff (Digitalization and E-resources Units), Post Graduate Students, Lecturers, and University Librarians from five public universities in Ghana were sampled for the study using multiple sampling techniques. The study yielded an overall response rate of 92.8%. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, a semi-structured interview guide, and the analysis of IR policies and websites. The internal consistency reliability of the research instruments was tested using the Cronbach alpha (α=0.81). The quantitative data that was collected through a questionnaire was analysed descriptively using the SPSS software. The qualitative data was analysed using NVivo software. The transcribed interview responses were imported into NVivo software and categorised into nodes or themes based on the research questions. Both the qualitative data and quantitative data were integrated at the discussion stage of the study. The findings of the study revealed that the concept of IRs is not new in Ghana. However, inadequate funding, ICT Infrastructure, bandwidth, publisher copyright restrictions and the lack of technical staff for system development and management of IRs were identified as major challenges that confront IR participation and threatens its long-term survival and sustainability in Ghana. Also, IR policies guided content submission, usage, operation and management of repositories in public universities in Ghana. However, content submission to IRs by faculty members was found to be low. This was largely attributed to the persuasive nature of the IR policies. The study recommends the need for a policy implementation strategy and underscores the importance of policy in addressing the numerous challenges that threatens the sustainability of the IRs. Consequently, it proposes a framework that may contribute to ensuring the sustainability of the IRs in public universities in Ghana.