Open Access Institutional Repositories in Academic and Research Institutions in Nigeria: A Review of Benefits and Challenges

Abstract

Institutional Repositories offer the opportunity for academic libraries to collect, preserve and disseminate an institution’s scholarly output. Serving an important service to the community, Institutional Repositories offer many benefits to the academic institutions community as well as other people and communities around the world. Institutional Repositories make it possible to collect content in one location, capture and provide open access to the intellectual output of a university, as well as preserve content that may be otherwise unavailable or out of publication. It is essential to explore the benefits as well as the challenges of Institutional Repositories to make sure it is worthwhile to the library as well as the institution. This paper therefore, explores benefits and challenges faced in the introduction and sustainability of Institutional Repositories in academic institutions in Nigeria. Lastly, it was recommended that National Universities Commission (NUC) should organize series of conferences and capacity building workshops to educate and train stakeholders in academic and research institutions in Nigeria on the benefits of establishing Institutional Repository. In this way their knowledge of Open Access Institutional Repository will be enriched and they will be in a better position to advocate for change in policies within their institution and at national level. This will create a conducive environment that will nurture the development and growth of open access Institution Repository in Nigeria.