The CARL institutional repositories project. A collaborative approach to addressing the challenges of IRs in Canada
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830610669547 |
| Pages | 165-172 |
| Published date | 01 April 2006 |
| Author | Kathleen Shearer |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES IN
CANADA
The CARL institutional
repositories project
A collaborative approach to addressing the
challenges of IRs in Canada
Kathleen Shearer
Canadian Association of Research Libraries, Quebec, Canada
Abstract
Purpose – To report the results of the 2005 CARL survey of institutional repositories (IRs) and
discuss some of the challenges of implementing IRs in Canada.
Design/methodology/approach – This takes the form of a survey questionnaire.
Findings – There are a number of important issues confronting implementers of institutional
repositories. Most of these issues are not insurmountable,but, to be properly addressed will require
collaboration amongst implementers and resources.
Research limitations/implications – The findings issues identified through the survey contribute
to the workplan of the CARL Institutional Repositories Project.
Originality/value – The paper presents an up to date account of the state of institutional
repositories in Canada.
Keywords Canada, Digitallibraries
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
An institutional repository (IR) is a digital archive of an institution’s intellectual
output. They collect and make accessible a range of research material and also form
part of a larger global system of repositories. Institutional repositories represent
important new infrastructure for research libraries. The software is free and open
source, and it offers, to some extent, an “out of the box” solution to the challenges of
acquiring and preserving the rapidly growing body of digital material produced at our
institutions. As a result, libraries have been quick to implement them. In Canada , as
elsewhere, the number of IRs has grown steadily since the term was first coined in 2001
by SPARC.
The Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) began an Institutional
Repository Project in 2003 with the aim of assessing the IR concept in the Canadian
context. CARL represents 27 university libraries in Canada plus Library and Archives
Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information (CISTI), and
the Library of Parliament. As part of the project, CARL conducts an annual survey
of its members to assess the progress of IR implementation and identify some
of the issues that could be addressed by implementers and the CARL IR Project.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
The CARL
IR project
165
Received December 2005
Accepted March 2006
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 24 No. 2, 2006
pp. 165-172
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830610669547
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