Ensuring Long-Term Viability: A Proposed Framework for Institutional Repository Sustainability.

Abstract

Universities in developing countries are faced with the challenge of accessing scholarly information to support their research and teaching mandate (Ammarukleart 2017:16; Saina 2022:1). The increased cost of academic publications like books and journals, the significant growth in the overall volume of research, and the long latency in the traditional print publications paradigm have affected research and teaching in institutions of higher learning (Ukwoma and Dike 2017; Saini 2018). As such, institutional repositories (IRs) are developing as vehicles to possibly support universities achieve their roles (Jain, Bentley & Oladiran 2016; Wesolek 2016: xv) An IR is defined as a digital archive of intellectual output created by the faculty, research, staff and student of an institution of higher learning and accessible to end users both within and outside of the institution with few if any barrier to access (Lynch 2003; Murugathas & Balasooriya 2014; Jain et al 2015; Demetres, Delgado & Wright 2020). These digital documents consist of all electronic publications such as thesis, journals, books and conference papers (Okumu 2015; Kodua 2020). Despite an increase in the adoption of IRs globally, there is a growing concern regarding the sustainability of OAIRs (Burns et al. 2013; Nkiko, Bolu & Chijioke 2014; Francke, Gamalielsson, & Lundell 2017). Like all new ICT driven innovations, maintenance and running cost, perceptions or attitudes towards change or innovations, ICT infrastructure, content quality, institutional policies, copyright, and skill sets or competencies of personnel have been identified as critical to the sustenance of IRs (Corletey 2011; Thompson et al 2016; Martin-Yeboah et al 2018; Anyaoku et al 2019). This paper presents a model for the sustainability of IRs, aiming to address the various challenges that threaten their long-term viability. By exploring the essential elements that contribute to sustainability, the proposed model offers a comprehensive framework that institutions can adopt and adapt to their specific needs.