Open source software adoption for development of institutional repositories in university libraries of Islamabad
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-10-2021-0113 |
| Published date | 12 May 2022 |
| Date | 12 May 2022 |
| Pages | 47-55 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Library & information services,Lending,Document delivery,Collection building & management,Stock revision,Consortia |
| Author | Muhammad Kabir Khan,Arslan Sheikh |
Open source software adoption for
development of institutional repositories in
university libraries of Islamabad
Muhammad Kabir Khan
H.U. Beg Library, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES), Islamabad, Pakistan, and
Arslan Sheikh
Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to explore the present status of open-source institutional repository (IR) software’s usage in the university libraries of
Islamabad. This study also investigates the views, satisfaction level and challenges of librarians in the adoption and use of IR software.
Design/methodology/approach –A survey was conducted to collect data from the Library Information Science (LIS) professionals working in the
university libraries of Islamabad. Data were collected from all library professionals of the Islamab ad university libraries by using a structured
questionnaire. Out of the total 104 LIS professionals, 84 participated in the study with a response ratio of 80.76%.
Findings –The findings disclose that out of 23 universities recognized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, 17 (public and private) have
developed IRs. Currently, university libraries that have fully implemented the IRs are less as compared with those universities that have partially
implemented IR software. However, a good number of university libraries are in the process to develop IRs. Free and open-source software is bei ng used
mostly in libraries as compared with in-house developed, locally developed or commercial software. The opinion of librarians about using IR software
expressed a positive attitude of librarians. Some of the major challenges encountered by thelibrarians in using open-source IR software include selection of
suitable software and materials for digitization, lack of cooperation from the parent organization, inadequate training opportunities and lack of skilled staff.
Research limitations/implications –This study is geographically limited to the university libraries in Islamabad.
Practical implications –This study will encourage the Pakist ani LIS professionals to use open-source software for the develop ment of IRs in their libraries.
Originality/value –This study concludes that the development of IRs in university libraries is a need of the hour. Although the launching of IRs
requires certain skills and competencies, Pakistani librarians can overcome these challenges by mastering the ICT skills.
Keywords Digital library system, Digital library, Free softwares, Librarians’perceptions, Librarians’challenges, Pakistan
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The revolution of digital technology has brought the world of
information into the hands of the masses. The new
technologicalinventions have greatly facilitated and accelerated
the activities of education, especially in producing and
preserving intellectual outputs (Armstrong, 2014). A vast
amount of research work is being produced on a daily basis by
different researchers. Therefore, higher education institutions
are facing the challenges of preservation and dissemination of
these intellectual outputs. To meet these challenges and to
ensure open access (OA) to the research works, institutional
repositories (IRs) are the most essential and substantial tool to
preserve these documents in digital formats (Francke et al.,
2017). The IR is an archive for gathering, preserving and
disseminating digital documents of scholarly output in an
organization, especially in scholarly and research institutions
(Mapulanga, 2013).In an academic institution, an IR normally
incorporates materials, such as monographs, reprints of
academic institutional journal articles both previously
(preprints) and then after (post-prints) after going through
companion peer-review and electronic dissertations and theses
(Mostofa et al., 2015). “The phrase ‘institutional repository’is
often used informally to differentiate between systems and
services to collect and disseminate scholarly content (peer-
reviewed articles written by faculty, electronic theses, and
dissertations) versus those systems and services supporting
other types of digitalobjects”(Clobridge, 2010).
Depending on the specificlibrary,ausermaybeabletoaccess
research articles, books, papers, images, sound files and videos
The current issue and full text archiveof this journal is available on Emerald
Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2398-6247.htm
Information Discovery and Delivery
51/1 (2023) 47–55
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2398-6247]
[DOI 10.1108/IDD-10-2021-0113]
The principal author acknowledges the contribution of his co-author Mr
Arslan Sheikh in reviewing, editing, revising and getting this paper
published into this journal. The cooperation of the editor and anonymous
reviewers in the peer review process is also acknowledged.
Received 14 October 2021
Revised 16 December 2021
5 January 2022
2 February 2022
26 February 2022
27 March 2022
Accepted 20 April 2022
47
To continue reading
Request your trial