Lecturers' Awareness, Perception, and Utilization of Institutional Repositories in Two Universities in Nigeria

Authors

Jemilat Iyabo Arilesere, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology,Moor Plantation, Apata, IbadanFollow
Gafar Abiodun Akinosho Mr, Federal College od Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Planation, Ibadan, NigeriaFollow

Date of this Version

2023

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the lecturer's awareness, perception, and utilization of institutional repositories in two universities in Nigeria. The universities include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Jos. The research design adopted for the study was correlational research design, while the questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The questionnaire was grouped into five sections and most of the questions were close-ended. Also, the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were done in order to obtain the desired results. Out of 642 questionnaires distributed, 473 were completed, returned, and found suitable for use. Descriptive and inferential statistics were then used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that lecturers' level of awareness of IRs was moderate, this was indicated by a weighted average of 2.58 (65%). The findings also revealed the lecturer's major sources of awareness of IRs were through University's website 417 (88.2%), library sensitizations 286 (60.5%), and colleagues 288 (60.9%).The Majority of the lecturers slightly utilized IRs 243 (51.4%) for depositing scholarly materials. However, the majority of the lecturers indicated that they did not encounter many constraints when utilizing the repositories. In the course of the study, three hypotheses were tested and the findings from the hypotheses revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between awareness and utilization of IRs, perception, and utilization of IRs, awareness, and perception of the importance of IRs. It was concluded that an increase in the awareness and perception of IRs by lecturers increases their utilization of the IRs. Hence, recommendations were made to the library management of the two universities to intensify their advocacies, awareness campaigns, and sensitization excises in order to increase awareness and perception of lecturers which would in turn increase the utilization of the repositories.