Content in Institutional Repositories

Caroline Pallone

CR

Genoni, P. (2004). Content in institutional repositories: A collection management issue. Library Management, 25(6), 300-306. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1108/01435120410547968 

Summary 

This article looks at one of the major challenges faced by collection managers, which is "to develop and manage an institutional repository." The paper looks at the "issue of content in repositories, and suggests that librarians need to approach the task of content development by applying some of the procedures and skills associated with collection management within more traditional environments" (2004). This is especially relevant because, "Content-related issues will be crucial to the success of these repositories, be they in universities or some other institutional setting" (2004). Genoni also states:

Many libraries have already begun to recognise the value of informal scholarly communication. This is apparent in the numerous subject "portals" that now form part of libraries' information services, and which frequently include guides or links to non-formal as well as formal sources of information. Similarly, institutional repositories should not necessarily be configured as a surrogate form of distribution for formal or peer reviewed scholarship. Rather their full potential may only be realised if they are allowed to develop into a hybrid form, to be used for the dissemination of both formal and informal scholarly communication (2004).

Finally, the article finishes up by saying that when it comes to institutional repositories, content should be what is first and foremost, the most important issue. If the content is not kept to par, the rest of the collection falls apart. Genoni finishes by saying, "So familiar are these tasks that they should be able to be smoothly incorporated into the current collection management programs of libraries, and the associated policy decisions can be recorded within the framework of existing collection development policy documents" (2004).  

Evaluation

I feel that the article does a good job in explaining one of the major issues facing collection management today, and that is making sure there is good content in high ranking institutional repositories. It presents a good study in which data was gathered via surveys, and the author chose from a wide pool of participants. The meticulousness of the study and the details that were gathered really add credibility to the study, and it appears that he is one of the only researchers to tackle this issue. Therefore, this is an article that cannot be overlooked.