Institutional Repositories Adoption in selected Academic Libraries in Tanzania: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Open University of Tanzania and Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology libraries.

Msagamas, Andrew (2022) Institutional Repositories Adoption in selected Academic Libraries in Tanzania: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Open University of Tanzania and Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology libraries. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study assessed Institutional repositories adoption in Tanzanian academic libraries. Data was obtained by using self-administered questionnaires and structured interview protocol, focused group discussion and observation. The study was conducted at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Open University of Tanzania and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. Specific objectives were to; establish the level of awareness of users on Institutional Repository (IR), Find out types of infrastructure used for IR, assess the software used on IR, determine the availability of IR policies, Identify challenges faced in IR adoption in selected academic libraries. Questionnaires were used to sample of 60 academic staff and 27 IR managers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 3 Library Directors. Majority 270 (94.44%) of respondents indicated that they were aware on the existence of IR. Then the results revealed that 163 (57%) of respondents learned about IR from librarians, 143 (50%) from seminars and 87 (31%) from the Internet. On the requirements for the operationalization of the IR, 256 (100%) of respondents identified Internet connectivity, software 205 (80%), ICT 128 (50%), 74 (29%) reported that uninterrupted power supply as an important infrastructure. Through Focus Group Discussions 77 (30%) librarians indicated that there are two common software used for IR establishment; Dspace and Eprints. Issues related to IR policy; two universities (90%) had put in place IR policy. Scarce funds, slow Internet, inadequate ICT infrastructure are some of the challenges. The study recommends to the university management, to allocate adequate funds for ICT infrastructure and library staff to raise awareness on the centrality of IR to users. Keywords: Institutional repository, academic libraries, digital archiving, Tanzania.

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