Communicating the benefits of an institutional repository: experiences of a research institution

Abstract

Institutional repositories (IR) are now being recognised as a significant way of valuing and showcasing an institution’s intellectual output; a major tool in opening access to research. Knowledge is considered as a strategic resource. It is inevitable that we create, store, share and transfer information and knowledge in a continuous flow and for the advancement of our research institution. This paper briefly discusses the processes involved in the establishment of an IR using AgriOcean Dspace, an open source IR software at the CSIR-Food Research Institute. Marketing and advocacy strategies employed to engage CSIR-FRI staff to enable them to contribute meaningfully and effectively in populating the IR have been outlined and benefits described. The paper also describes the various communication methods used to promote the IR and evaluates their effectiveness in getting users to participate in populating the IR. The study adopted a survey method. A web-based questionnaire was used to elicit data from CSIR-FRI Staff. The survey found that although as high as 87.9% of respondents were aware of the benefits of an IR and 62.4% were aware of the existence of the IR, 40% of respondents had not submitted their works to the IR