Usage of Sokoine University of Agriculture Institutional Repository among academic staff at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science in Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2018-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Emerald Publishing Limited
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate the use of Sokoine University of Agriculture Institutional
Repository (SUAIR) among academic staff at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science
(CVBMS). Specifically, the study looked at awareness of, attitude, self-archiving and challenges the academic
staff face when using SUAIR.
Design/methodology/approach – The study used survey method. The data were collected using selfadministered
questionnaire with the results analysed using descriptive statistics.
Findings – The study found that although there was more than one source of raising awareness on SUAIR,
the university’s library, the internet and meetings were the major sources. Majority of the respondents were
not aware of how to deposit their scholarly output in the institutional repository. As a result, the majority of
academic staff had never deposited their scholarly work in SUAIR. Generally, the respondents had a positive
attitude towards using SUAIR. Apart from lack of skills and knowledge on how to deposit research outputs,
the study established that lack of time, fear of plagiarism and lack of awareness of existence of the SUAIR
were significant barriers to the effective utilisation of SUAIR.
Originality/value – This is the first time such a study has been undertaken focussing on the use,
awareness and attitude of SUAIR in Tanzania. As such, the study findings can be used to assess the attitude
of academic staff at Sokoine University of Agriculture and other universities in Tanzania and Sub-Saharan
Africa with similar operational characteristics.
Description
Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication 2018
Keywords
Academic libraries, Tanzania, Information services, Academic staff, Institutional repositories, Open access resources