Institutional Repositories, as Emerging Initiative in Nigerian University Libraries

Abstract

Scholars and researchers have increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with the existing model of scholarly communication such as high subscription prices for journals, heightened awareness that universities might lose print materials that are not properly archived and restricted access. These issues have contributed to the quest for alternative modes of preservation and dissemination of information such as institutional repositories (IRs). IRs had been considered one of the emerging initiatives in Nigeria university libraries. The success of IR is dependent on the awareness of and perceived benefits of IR by lecturers. The main purpose of the study is to assess the level of awareness of and perceived benefits of IR among lecturers in federal universities in the South-South zone of Nigeria. The study revealed that lecturers in South-South federal university in Nigeria are aware of IR and its benefits. The study concludes that universities should encourage promotional activities geared towards creating awareness of IR which will in turn enhance positive attitude towards IR establishment in universities.

Keywords: Institutional Repositories, Open Access