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This paper focuses on digital archiving and the establishment of open Access digital repositories in three selected Nigerian Universities. Despite the abundance of vital information kept in the traditional archives of Nigerian universities, many researchers cannot easily access it due to the seeming absence of proper digitization and online visibility. It is also observed that the practice of archiving and the management of information in the repositories in Nigerian universities is limited to the central library, which makes access to information in the satellite archives across the departments and in the administrative units very difficult. This paper therefore, intends to; determine the nature, existence and the roles of digital repositories in the three selected Nigerian universities and to identify the types of information sources and resources available in their digital repositories, among others. Qualitative research methodology was adopted. Data was purposefully obtained from the websites of the three Selected Nigerian universities. The findings of this study indicate that the Digital Repositories existed in the three selected universities studied with different names, and were found to contain volumes of scholarly information sources and resources, which were organized in a systematic and chronological order, but it is not well structured to specifically link resources in the departments, faculties and other units of the universities with the central repositories. It was also found that Digital Repositories were not always accessible, possibly due to inadequate ICT infrastructure and necessary staff skills for their effective maintenance. It was concluded that the repositories existed for over a decade and were providing information services to its users. It was recommended that, the management of the universities studied should imbibe strong maintenance culture to effectively manage the Digital Repositories for sufficient access to scholarly information sources and resources and should consider the installations and deployment of necessary ICT infrastructure, as well as the right software configurations including the provision of regular staff training for proper digitisation and digitalisation of work processes and procedures in the repositories for efficient results and the promotion of Digital Data Literacy in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An institutional repository (IR) is a digital collection that archives and provides access to an institution's scholarly and creative output, such as a university, research organization, or museum. The purpose of an IR is to collect, preserve, and share the intellectual work of an institution, making it accessible to a wider audience. An IR typically includes research articles, conference papers, theses and dissertations, preprints, reports, datasets, multimedia, and other scholarly and creative works produced by faculty, staff, and students. An institutional profile in Google Scholar can function as an institutional repository. While it may not have all the features and functionalities of a traditional institutional repository, it can still provide a platform for institutions to share and showcase their research output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital repositories play a crucial role in organizing and preserving vast collections of digital content. Efficiently ingesting large amounts of data into these repositories is a common challenge faced by institutions. This paper explores the use of bulk upload techniques in DSpace, an open-source digital repository software, to streamline the ingestion process and enhance repository management. We discuss the benefits of bulk upload in terms of time savings, metadata consistency, and scalability. Additionally, we delve into the technical aspects of implementing bulk upload in DSpace, covering the Simple Archive Format (SAF), metadata mapping, and handling of digital files. Furthermore, we highlight real-world examples and best practices for utilizing bulk upload in DSpace. By adopting this approach, institutions can significantly improve their efficiency in managing and preserving digital content, ensuring a seamless user experience, and facilitating knowledge dissemination. Here, an experimental method of research/case study technique is utilized to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the design model for implementation of the bulk uploading of documents in Dspace at Bennett University is practiced. The feedback is gathered in order to identify the flaws and make the necessary improvements. Simple Archive Format (SAF) is a utility that converts Bitstream/Content files plus a metadata.csv file into a Simple Archive Format package, making bulk uploads to the DSpace repository simple. All question papers were digitized using a high-quality scanner, an Excel file with Dublin core information was created, and Excel was converted to CSV format in order to import all old question papers in bulk into the Bennett University Digital Repository Services. The study indicates that it is essential to pay close attention to the precise format of metadata leveraging the Dublin core and the file's location. It is an experiment conducted by the Bennett University Library and the research was confined to Bennett University digital repository. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to promote and share the research output of Bennett University (BU), India through Digital Repository Services (DRSs). It aims at encouraging, assisting and accelerating the research fraternity of the university. Design/methodology/approach -- This paper explains about the initiatives adopted by the LRC at BU for developing DRS using open-space software, Dspace for long-term preservation of intellectual assets and increase the visibility of the institute in global landscape. Findings -- DRS at BU was developed with an aim to preserve and disseminate the intellectual assets of BU, encourage budding talents and increase BU's visibility in global landscape. Despite the constraints at the experimental phase, DRS at BU collected over 707 publications (October 2021) and the number is ever increasing. Though there were some initial glitches before and after the implementation process but keeping a flexible approach, LRC will continue mapping solutions for BU. Originality/value -- This paper briefs the case study of one of the core services' initiation (DRS) including its design, development and implementation at LRC-BU using open-source software Dspace (Version 5.5). Hence, it can serve as a model for future projects in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine how the usage and understanding of open-source digital repositories affect measurements. This paper examines a DSpace and EPrints case study at Fiji National University. The idea of a digital repository is essential in research communities. Facilitating research in an open-access setting is essential. Open-access digital library software such as DSpace, EPrints, and Greenstone can address these problems. In contrast, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has fundamentally changed how individuals' access and engage with information. Since they provide accurate and up-to-date information and support an academic institution's primary objective, digital sources of information have become crucial to the current library collections in the academic environment. Nevertheless, as information and communication technology (ICT) has advanced, how individuals' access and engage with information has seen a revolutionary change, and the phrase "digital library" has proliferated throughout the library community. The effects of the pandemic, namely restrictions, closures, and other lockdown measures implemented to keep people safe and make it difficult or impossible to visit many locations and cultural events, have become increasingly evident with the advanced use of digital repositories in university libraries. Despite this, the epidemic has raised users' and researchers' awareness of digital access, making it more straightforward for people to obtain information, services, and other material resources online without considering the physical requirement to visit these places. Technological breakthroughs have caused significant changes in modern culture. The sharing and preserving of information, which has substantial worth and will last for decades, is essential for a generation's legacy. To gain skills for this software, professionals in the library and information science (LIS) area have gone through training on a variety of platforms. Universities and organizations can access digital research and educational materials thanks to the most popular institutional repository software products, DSPACE and EPrints. Other institutional repository software programs are available, subsequently, more original content in digital formats is produced and never released through conventional channels. Institutions and universities need to maintain their valuable assets. The purpose of this study is to examine the outcomes of increasing librarians awareness and use of DSpace and EPrints, two open-source digital repositories, as well as the value of training workshops for librarians at the Fiji National University. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type of content and file format influences the success of digital preservation strategies. Institutional repositories are custodians of digital resources that are to be held in perpetuity necessitating the need to consider long term preservation of these resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of digital content and its metadata for long term digital preservation. The study was qualitative in nature utilizing interviews as well as document analysis. websites and IR database investigations were utilized to check on content, format and metadata adequacy. The findings revealed great inadequacies in the IRs' capabilities to support long term preservation as evidenced by haphazard content and format selection, ingest procedures that did not consider long-term preservation as well as metadata that focused on access only. Recommendations included the need to involve archivist in develop selection and appraisal policies as well as development comprehensive metadata policies that ensured that preservation metadata was also captured as required. Creation of awareness among repository administrators to expose them to the importance of adopting open file formats and standard as well as benchmarking were also proposed. The paper provides insights into universities on the relationship between selection and processing of digital resources and their long-term preservation within the IRs in Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reveals a webometric study on the Institutional Digital Repositories (IDR) of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Countries. The SAARC countries include eight countries i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In this study, a selected search engine is used to find out the number of link webpages in each IDR in with different types of links. The search engine has been used to search and collect data. The data collection method extensively makes use of five special key words like site:URL/site Address, link:URL/site Address, link:URL/site Address AND site:URL/site Address, link:URL/site Address NOT site:URL/site Address and link:URL/site Address AND NOT site:URL/site Address from selected search engine. The five Boolean search statement methods used to collect data for each IDR of SAARC countries and an advanced tool SocScibot4 is used for link network visualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library publishing has become an important and alternative function of academic and research libraries in their quest to serve the scholarly community. Adopting a qualitative approach, through interviews and a review of the content of the KNUST Library's Strategic Plan and website, this paper explores the potential of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Library to engage fully in library publishing. The paper also examines the policy, infrastructure, and assesses the human (skills and capacity of staff) and technical resources at the KNUST Library to determine its capacity to engage in full-scale library publishing. We found that although the KNUST Library engages in library publishing by disseminating and curating scholarship within the university community through its institutional repository (KNUSTSpace); it is yet to explore other aspects of library publishing that entail the creation and validation of the scholarship it disseminates and curates. To fully fulfil its mandate, we recommend a survey to first solicit views from the faculty at KNUST to determine the scope and type of scholarly publishing initiative to engage in. Given the current state of the library, we suggest retraining and a collaboration with the Department of Publishing Studies and other academic and research libraries with expertise to engage in collaborative library publishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading stories to children when they are young is the most effective way to keep them creatively engaged. Children in multilingual countries require free access to story repositories for leisure reading. In India, a country with hundreds of mother tongues, books are largely published in English and Hindi, owing to market economics. Various studies have shown that learning and reading become more important in one's mother tongue, and that when a child reads in two or more languages during early years, gains a deeper understanding of language and its effective use. In this paper, the researchers have tried to discover; to what extent Storyweaver (SW) helps fill the gap between different types of reading requirements and availability of resources in their native language? This paper explores the possibilities for more visibility for educators, parents, authors, publishers, illustrators and translators to showcase their capabilities across the global platform especially in under resourced areas. The paper will also explore if the educators can customize the resources of SW according to their individual requirements. This paper will try to determine whether SW can serve different leveled readers with appropriate resources. This paper will also explore the usage and popularity of this digital repository in context to literacy promotion and act as a savior for vanishing regional languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out to evaluate the Awareness and Use of Open Access Institutional Repositories by Academics in Federal Universities in North Central States of Nigeria. The research questions raised among others include: How often do academic staff use Open Access IR for dissemination of research outputs in Federal Universities in North Central States of Nigeria? What challenges are academic staff faced with in accessing Open Access IR in Federal Universities in North Central States of Nigeria? Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the research. The target population are 3,547 academics in the Federal Universities in the North Central States excluding University of Agriculture Makurdi, and University of Abuja. A sample of 355 respondents (Academics) was selected for the study. The figure represents approximately 10% of the target population of academics in the Federal Universities in North Central States of Nigeria. The instrument that was used to collect data for the study is questionnaire. The data collected was subjected to descriptive statistics. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Some of the major findings revealed: that the Open Access Institutional Repositories were used by scholars on daily bases and at their will. That academics experience a kind of delay when looking for information from their Open Access Institutional Repositories during their academic activities which can lead to unproductive academic productivity. The study recommends that university management should provide necessary facilities and formulate policies that would encourage mandatory deposit and use of scholarly works in open access institutional repositories and other open access outlets to raise the level of usage among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Makerere University is the oldest and most prestigious university in East Africa. As one of the best universities on the African content, Makerere is aligned to three main activities; Teaching, Research, and Community Outreach, and these are inclined to 5 core values; allegiance to the institution, integrity, customer responsiveness, professionalism, and openness to diversity. Makerere University has a library system, hosting both electronic and print resources. The digitization of print resources has created a system, through which delicate material is conserved. The files and their metadata, using Dublin Core, are stored in the institutional repository and in the integrated library system (Virtua). The library system further generates library usage data which can be used in making acquisitions decisions. For most research output files, the data is available and would be archived alongside the digital files. Other than the National Biodiversity Data Bank which is transitioning to online, the rest of the data remains stored on authors' personal computers and other storage tools. With support from the government and other development partners, Makerere university strives for a shift from a more academic-driven to a research-led university. This calls for more support from the university administration and other key units, to provide access points to linked data. This paper aimed at establishing the status of linked data at Makerere university, challenges encountered in data management, and prospect strategies. The researcher used an exploratory research methodology to generate key findings, from existing literature and personal experiences from experts. The findings reveal that Makerere university researchers archive their data in external repositories and that, while the Makerere Institutional Repository has the potential to host linked data, this service has not been exploited basically due to lack of skilled labor force, awareness, financial resources, and policy. However, this service, when incorporated in the institutional research agenda, can be implemented and also enhance data linking in the NBDB. It is anticipated that the results from this study will guide Makerere and other institutions in Uganda to embrace the value of linked data and therefore ignite its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the lecturer's awareness, perception, and utilization of institutional repositories in two universities in Nigeria. The universities include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Jos. The research design adopted for the study was correlational research design, while the questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The questionnaire was grouped into five sections and most of the questions were close-ended. Also, the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were done in order to obtain the desired results. Out of 642 questionnaires distributed, 473 were completed, returned, and found suitable for use. Descriptive and inferential statistics were then used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that lecturers' level of awareness of IRs was moderate, this was indicated by a weighted average of 2.58 (65%). The findings also revealed the lecturer's major sources of awareness of IRs were through University's website 417 (88.2%), library sensitizations 286 (60.5%), and colleagues 288 (60.9%). The Majority of the lecturers slightly utilized IRs 243 (51.4%) for depositing scholarly materials. However, the majority of the lecturers indicated that they did not encounter many constraints when utilizing the repositories. In the course of the study, three hypotheses were tested and the findings from the hypotheses revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between awareness and utilization of IRs, perception, and utilization of IRs, awareness, and perception of the importance of IRs. It was concluded that an increase in the awareness and perception of IRs by lecturers increases their utilization of the IRs. Hence, recommendations were made to the library management of the two universities to intensify their advocacies, awareness campaigns, and sensitization excises in order to increase awareness and perception of lecturers which would in turn increase the utilization of the repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the development and management of local contents in institutional repositories (IR) in tertiary institution libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research method. Online questionnaire and IR site investigation methods were used to collect data from 20 university libraries in Nigeria. The study revealed that no single College of Education, or Polytechnic library in Nigeria have embraced development of IR. Only 20 university libraries have successfully developed IRs to manage local contents emanating from the universities. The majority of the institutional repositories contain primarily theses and dissertations, journal articles and conference proceedings. DSpace was the most preferred software used in the various IRs to manage local contents, and lack of fund, inadequate facilities, absence of IR policies, and challenge of collecting contents from various contributors were the most mentioned challenges encountered in the development of IRs in Nigeria. The results from the study will provide important data and insight into the development of institutional repositories in tertiary institution libraries in Nigeria, and generate suggestions for librarians, and policymakers for developing institutional repositories in developing countries. The project will enable university libraries in Nigeria provide world class services by making their local contents visible globally. This will make users access relevant documents in that particular tertiary institution libraries from anywhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated relationship issues in research visibility of Library and Information Science professionals in Imo State. It examined the indices for measuring research visibility of library and information science professionals; and established the relationships between use of research databases, academic networking sites, institutional repository, social media and research visibility of library and information science professionals. The study adopted correlational research design. The population of the study was 228 Library and Information Science professionals in Imo State which was also used as the sample. However, 152 copies of submitted instrument were used for the study. The instrument for data collection was an online Google form rated using four-point scale which was distributed through NLA Imo State Chapter WhatsApp group and individually. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for research questions while the hypotheses was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings of the study revealed that; there are factors considered in research visibility of library and information science professionals; there is a low extent of utilization of most of the indices studied for research visibility. Result of the hypotheses showed that there is a significant relationship between use of research databases, academic networking sites, institutional repository, social media and research visibility of library and information science professionals. The researchers recommend Library and Information Science professionals should increase their use of research databases, academic networking sites, institutional repository, social media for research visibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of available published literature it is attempted to study the concept of IR, its usefulness and availability in academic institutions, user's responses thereon. It is found that the concept is very useful to the students and researchers to have free access to required information easily and on time. The concept of copy right law has visible impact on development of IR. With these gathered information the researcher's attempt to study the status of implementation of IR in selected universities and research institutions of North East India is also hinted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the value and potential pitfalls of establishing an IR, as well as the roles that librarians and authors play in its effective maintenance. In the modern era of electronic publishing, universities and other academic institutions have come to see the importance of having an institutional repository (IR) as part of their intellectual dissemination infrastructure. An IR is an online repository of academic resources that serves as a repository for the intellectual capital of a university or other organization. It's a way to manage the digital scholarship created by its community members before, during, and after publication, all while raising the visibility of the institution and the scholarly standing of its writers. The report recommends using an IR as the gold standard for scholarly digital work because of the significant impact IRs can have on realizing DS's full potential and advantages. Additionally, the challenges faced by repository managers and librarians throughout the development and rollout of IRs in Nigerian universities were identified. Challenges include a lack of resources, infrastructure, and IR-related policies; copyright worries; no required self-archiving policy; and a dearth of enthusiasm among contributors. To guide the effective development and upkeep of IRs, the study suggests that institutions with IR plans create access policy, content policy, submission policy, and preservation policy statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of conducting this study was to determine the challenges to the development of institutional repositories in academic libraries in universities in Nigeria. The researcher made use of descriptive survey research design. A total of 120 systems librarians from federal, state and private university libraries in Nigeria were sampled for the study with questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The result of the study showed that the current level of institutional repository in Nigeria is low. The result of this study also showed that the challenges to the development of institutional repositories include: Low level of awareness on the part of management; lack of ICT personnel; inadequate ICT facilities; lack of ICT skills among workers; lack of fund as well as lack of interest on the part of librarians. Based on the result of the study, it is concluded that there is currently low level of use of institutional repositories. The researcher recommends, among others, that there is need to make adequate budgetary provision for the development of institutional repositories in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines and discusses the overview of the contributions made by the Indian Universities that signed MOU to the Open Access repository with INFLIBNET namely Shodhganga. 463 universities are contributing 247285 theses in Shodhganga in the INFLIBNET list as of 24.04.2020 where the State Universities contributed 195913 theses (79.22percent). Tamil Nadu contributed the highest number of theses 46416 where a maximum of 11908 theses was contributed by the individual university from Calcutta University, West Bengal. A total of 463 universities, 187 of the state universities, 140 of those are private universities, 88 of which are deemed universities and 3 of which are CFTI universities and the remaining 45 of which are central universities, that all keep e-theses in the Shodhganga repository. Tamil Nadu has the largest number (46) of universities depositing these into the repository. The investigator also examined that a total of 31 states use plagiarism detection software through the INFLIBNET-initiated Shodhshuddhi project with 1032 institutes/universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tries to determine the current Institutional Repository (IR) scenario in the central university libraries of Assam. A systematic questionnaire for the respondents was developed to capture the primary data. The surveys were handed out or sent to the target groups, and they were returned by hand or e-mail. Many conditions must be satisfied to properly establish IRs. According to the current study, the main hurdles to IRs in central university libraries of Assam are lack of technical assistance and high-speed internet connection. Why are certain academics allowed to see their work while others are not? What would make it possible for teachers to share their knowledge resources to help knowledge societies thrive? The Open Education Resources (OER) movement promotes the free and open sharing of educational resources. This study monograph demonstrates the positive attitude towards others among higher education instructors in India, which is driven to use the resources and distribute them for altruistic motives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to investigate how OAIRs policy can be used to collect the content in OAIRs. Systematic random and purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain a total of 292 respondents and 8 key informants. A structured questionnaire, in depth interview and secondary data were used to collect quantitative data and qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS version 22 and qualitative data were analyzed by using content analysis. Key findings revealed that 46.2% of respondents were aware of the OAIR policies and more than half (54.8%) were not aware of the OAIR policies. The findings also revealed that 45.5% of the respondents indicated that OAIRs policy are used to the recruitment of the content, specify the type of content to be held, identify who should access the content and direct how to preserve the content in OAIRs. Furthermore, 24.5% of the respondents indicated that training on procedures and guidelines, 18.5% mandate faculty members to submit their scholarly publication in the OAIRs, upload OAIRs policy in OAIRs page and 16.3% make OAIRs policy accessible through the university website will enhance the growth of collection in OAIRs. The study concluded that OAIR policies may cover a number of issues, and without a policy to guide users, OAIRs may remain virtually empty without content. Therefore, creating awareness on OAIRs, and OAIRs policy should be more emphasized on submission to enhance the growth of collection in OAIRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital information created for pedagogical and research purposes is gaining traction, and there is a growing interest within academic institutions to gather, archive, and provide value-added services based on this content. The term "institutional repository" refers to a novel system for storing and sharing digital academic works produced by students and teachers at different educational institutions. It was conceived as a solution to the issues plaguing the present model of scholarly communication, which is dominated by for-profit journal publishers and suppliers. Libraries will need to hire librarians with knowledge of digital collection management and the Open Archive Information System (OAIS) to ensure the successful implementation of these repositories. Some of the new responsibilities for libraries include teaching students and teachers how to use OAIS, assisting them in the creation of digital products, incorporating them into the formulation of institutional policy, and establishing objectives for institutional repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concept of national development, which refers to the improvement in the general well-being of a people. It highlights that national development involves growth, progress, and improvement in human, material, and physical resources of a nation. The indicators of national development include improved quality of life, absence of inequality and poverty, and equal participation in political decisions.

A Web-Based Information repository is a technology used to collect and organize multimedia information such as images, text, audio, video, software, and scientific data. It improves knowledge management and provides high-speed access to the database. The researcher made an initiative to analyze the trends in information services accessed from the university library website and to analyze the satisfaction of the respondents with Web-Based Information Repositories available in the sample unit. The target population of this study is research scholars in various departments of Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. The questionnaire method has been used for the collection of data required. A well-designed questionnaire was personally distributed to selected academicians covering different university departments. On the whole, 150 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Only 125 teaching faculties have responded to the request, with a response rate of 83.33%. The data was then tabulated and analysed for results and discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the impact of the open-access publication model on academia, emphasizing improved accessibility and openness. Topics include the definition and benefits of open access, which provides free and timely access to information resources in various formats, and the role of open access in sharing resources and boosting teaching, learning, and research.

Universities as institutions of higher learning place emphasis on research as one of their core functions apart from teaching and community services. A key criterion that is used to measure the standard of a university is the quality and quantity of research output. A university that falters in the production of brilliant researches that can be applied in moving the society forward socio-economically and technologically, has lost its relevance. It is therefore essential that in expanding the frontiers of knowledge and imparting the society positively, adequate attention should be placed on the intellectual output emanating from the ivory towers. The situation where the totality of the research output emanating from a particular university cannot be ascertained will make it very difficult to evaluate the university output and could also impede the collation and onward transmission of the researches that can benefit different segments of the society to the parties concerned. This reveals the need for the establishment of institutional repositories (IRs) in Nigerian universities. Thus, Institutional Repository becomes imperative to maximize the visibility and global impact of the institution's intellectual outputs, and also considering the weakness of the existing model of publishing which is rigorous, time consuming, expensive, and scarcely caters for the grey materials and other local scholarship. In the light of the innumerable benefits of institutional repository, university libraries all over the country, Nigeria should resort to institutional repository as a means of coping with preserving and disseminating (for full impact) their ever increasing scholarly out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine digital access tools and provision of open educational resources by librarians in academic libraries in Rivers State. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted a correlational research survey design. The population of the study was Seventy-Five (75) librarians comprising all the state government owned academic libraries in Rivers State. Census sampling technique was used to select all the respondents. Online questionnaire titled Digital Access Tools and Provision of Open Educational Resources Questionnaire (DATPOERQ) was used for data collection. A total of Sixty-Six (66) responses were recorded and found valid for analysis. The data was analysed using the simple linear regression statistical tool. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between digital access tools (library website, institutional repository and databases) and the provision of open educational resources in academic libraries in Rivers State. The study recommended that academic libraries in Rivers state should link their websites including social media websites to other academic library websites and form a consortium so that users that have access to their libraries and could also harvest the online resources provided by other libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open educational resources (OER) are being utilised more often to support pedagogical objectives and learning requirements in higher education institutions all over the world. The OER: opportunities and difficulties for academic staff at private institutions in Delta State, Nigeria were the subject of this research. For this study, the descriptive research design was used. The goal of the research is to determine the extent of academic staff use of OERs, the reason for such usage, the advantages associated with that usage, and the obstacles that academic staff face in using OERs. The study's findings revealed that both institutions' academic staff members used open educational resources (OERs) extensively. Participants also used OERs to learn new things and find inspiration. Some advantages of employing OERs include making research work easily accessible and offering free internet access to books required for study. The usage of OERs was hindered by weak Internet infrastructure and an insufficient power supply. The report suggested, among other things, that tertiary institutions work to develop their own repository where done research might be uploaded. Students and academic staff would gain from it. Additionally, policymakers in Delta State must to think about launching a serious OER campaign at private institutions. This will increase accessibility and use by ensuring that both academic staff and students are aware of their presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate the usage pattern of academic hybrid library digital resources by history and international studies postgraduates. Qualitative case study was adopted as the research design of the inquiry. Focus group discussion, observation and interview were employed as data tools. Among the inquiry's outcome, it was disclosed that there were varieties of digital resources in the hybrid library under study. It was also disclosed that the history and international studies postgraduates were aware of the available digital resources. However, it was disclosed that only few participants were utilising the library's e-books and databases due to specific barriers. It was further disclosed that mainstream participants were utilising the resources in their IR. Based on the outcomes obtained, it was recommended among others that the library should organise series of sensitisation for the postgraduates on the need to increase the usage of the digital resources. It was also recommended that the postgraduates should be trained on how to access the digital resources. Finally, it was recommended that complex login procedures to some of the digital resources should be simplified to optimise their usage by the postgraduates and other library users. From previous literature, no inquiry was found that examined the usage pattern of digital resources in an academic hybrid library by history and international studies postgraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study, carried out at Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo Uganda examined the reading habits of students in the digital era in order to propose strategies for enhanced library and information services provision. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized cross-sectional survey design with mixed-methods approach. Data were collected using questionnaire and interview. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and thematic analysis respectively. The study population two hundred forty-two students and 15 staff members of Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo. Findings It was established that students at Uganda College of Commerce, Tororo mostly read to pass examinations, and textbooks are the most used information resources. Students prefer print to digital information resources. It also emerged that lack of the Internet was the biggest challenge affecting students' reading. Therefore, the study recommends development of information literacy programmes, institutional repositories and subscription to electronic resources among measures to enhance students' reading habits higher education institutions. Originality This study is a contribution to the scanty literature about reading habits in higher education institutions and the findings inform future planning and development of library and information services in higher education institutions in Uganda and sub Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"This article main purpose the examine the growth and development of Institutional Repositories available in BRICS countries, The relevant Data was collected from the Directory of OPENDOAR. Based on the data in OPEN DOAR, We found that 418 total repositories are available from BRICS countries, and analyzed that BRICS countries among the Brazil with 154(37%) number of repositories in OPEN DOAR. Russia with 50 (12%) in Number of contribution repositories in BRICS countries. foreword to India with 102 (24%) Number of repositories, China 64 (15%), South Africa 48 (12%). Brazil year 2020 (40) highest repositories contribution and year 2007, year 2018 found is lowest contribution in OPEN DOAR Types of repositories are found the Institutional 129 in Brazil, Russia with 42, India 88, China 52 and South Africa 44. Subject Content Social science is found Brazil 126, Rusia 40, India 84, China 33, South Africa 45". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of library consortia on resource sharing in academic libraries in Kenya with reference to the University of Nairobi library. The study also sought to propose a framework to enhance resource sharing in academic libraries and employed a descriptive case study design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect and analyse data. The study found out that library consortium model was the dominant method of resource sharing which greatly influenced resource sharing activities. The consortium (KLISC) was shown to be very significant in ensuring wider access to shared information resources, institutional repository development and capacity development for resource sharing. However, resource sharing was shown to be limited to the provision of collectively acquired information resources, with limited emphasis information exchange and inter-library integration. It was recommended that comprehensive standards be adopted to improve prospects of system integration and increased efforts made to improve the proportion of local content in shared information resources. The prioritisation of local content in the development of shared resources was also recommended and a framework for resource sharing was proposed to help tackle identified gaps in existing policies and frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently and particularly in Tanzania higher learning institutions have experienced significant trends in the adoption of open education resources and exponentially advanced towards the application of open education policy and guidance. Open education resource policies are essential tools in guiding, using, sharing, and modifying online resource practice This study used a survey design to assess open education resource policy adoption in Tanzania higher learning institutions. Specifically, areas related to the availability of open education resource policy; community awareness of open education resource policy, and implementation of open education resource policy in higher learning institutions were addressed. The survey involved five purposely selected public higher learning institutions, SUA, OUT, NM-AIST, MU, and MoCU based on their long experience in education, programs offered, and widely extended campuses throughout the country distance learning that demands comprehensive open education resources policy. The findings reveal that most higher learning lacks open education resource policy except for the Open University of Tanzania, which was based on providing distance learning. Instead, most institutions have a repository policy available online and easily accessed from respective pages. However, policies are not reviewed, which can result in inconsistent practice and the use of old software versions, which can lead to human errors and sometimes system failure. Thus, the study recommends policy review and upgrade of software systems to encourage the creation, access, re-use re-purpose, and redistribution of quality OERs to support teaching and learning practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the strategies for overcoming challenges in digital preservation of electronic theses and dissertations in public university libraries in South-East Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised 256 librarians, out of which only sixty-eight (68) digital or institutional repositories librarians were covered. A self-constructed questionnaire was used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. It was discovered that the major challenges encountered in preserving e-theses and dissertations in those libraries were lack of adequate funding, adequate ICT facilities, skilled staff, poor power supply, absence of staff development programme and digital preservation policy. It was also found that the strategies for overcoming challenges in preserving e-theses and dissertations in the libraries were creation of a digital preservation policy, undergoing continuing education, engaging in staff development programmes, creation of an institutional repository, entering agreements, collaboration, outsourcing funds, community needs assessment, organizational assessment and seeking expert advice while outsourcing ICT was not a strategy for overcoming the challenges. Finally, the investigation found that creation of a digital preservation policy, engaging in staff development programmes, creation of an institutional repository, entering agreements, undergoing continuing education, collaboration, community needs assessment, organizational assessment and seeking expert advice were the effective strategies employed in overcoming challenges in preserving e-theses and dissertations in the libraries, whereas, outsourcing ICT/funds and lobbying management for support were not effective strategies for overcoming the challenges. It was recommended that government and university management should be more committed to supporting the cause of digital preservation in university libraries as sustainable digital preservation cannot be achieved by the libraries alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]