Open Access Institutional Repositories Competence Level among Users for Improved Accessibility of Institutional Research Productivities: The Case of Selected Academic Institutions in Tanzania

Open Access Institutional Repositories Competence Level among Users for Improved Accessibility of Institutional Research Productivities: The Case of Selected Academic Institutions in Tanzania

Anna S. Mbughuni¹ and Andrew W. Malekani²
1 Department of Reference and Information Services, Mzumbe University
2 Department of Informatics and Information Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture
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Abstract
OAIR's competence level among users plays a critical role in improving accessibility of institutional research productivities available in OAIR. OAIR's competence enables easy use of OAIRs. However, in most African institutions, especially in Tanzania, the level of OAIRs competence among users in academic institutions is unknown. This study, therefore, was carried out to investigate the competency level in accessing institutional research productivities among users of academic libraries in Tanzania. Specifically, the study focused on examining the level of competency, assessing where users acquired skills of accessing institutional research productivities, establishing the attitude of library users towards acquiring skills, and identifying constraints faced in acquiring OAIRs skills. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. Systematic random and purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain a total of 292 respondents and 8 key informants. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from academic staff, research fellows, and librarians. Structured questionnaires, interview schedules, and content analysis were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS package V20.0, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Key findings indicated that 28.4% of the respondents are computer competent, information search literate (27.1%), competent in communication skills (27.1%), and competent in scholarly publishing and self-archiving (20.5%). Results indicated that respondents acquired skills of accessing institutional research productivity from librarians (22.6%) and library technicians (18.2%). Also, results revealed that 57.9% were positive towards acquiring skills, and 56.9% agreed that acquiring skills of OAIRs facilitates free and quick access. However, lack of awareness of the presence of OAIRs (38.6%), unawareness of OAIRs policy (22.8%), and lack of budget for training and advocacy of OAIRs (19.3%) were constraints faced in acquiring OAIRs skills. The study concluded that the competency level on accessibility of institutional research productivity is still low among library users, even as the use of OAIRs in Tanzania is still low. The study recommends reviewing OAIR's policies for managing OAIRs, especially putting up a mechanism for enforcing training (Anna S. Mbughuni and Andrew W. Malekani) among users, and investment in infrastructure for improved accessibility of institutional research productivity in Tanzanian institutions.

Keywords: Open Access Institutional Repositories, user competence, digital literacy, academic libraries, Tanzania.

Proceedings of the 6th COTUL Scientific Conference, 11–12 November 2024 at TMDA, Mwanza, Tanzania