An investigation into the extent to which South African repositories comply with international trust standards

Abstract

An institutional repository is seen as a valuable tool to manage digital resources within the organisational context. Repositories can have a positive or negative influence on how an institution manages its digital material in relation to accessibility and dissemination of digital material. The functionality and status quo of digital repositories can be assessed and measured based on specific guidelines to determine practicality and efficacy. The guidelines used in this regard are known as international repository assessment standards. These standards have been developed by leading organisations that specialise in knowledge creation to develop controlled, consensus-based, market-relevant international standards that can be used to support innovation and provide resolutions to global challenges. In the event where an institution wishes to assess its digital repository using international standards, the underlying purpose of the assessment exercise is for the digital repository to gain trust accreditation. This study aimed to develop a South African digital repository trust assessment model based on the criteria of international standards. This study investigated the level of trust compliance that a very small sample of South African digital repositories met – using the developed model. The investigation process is also aimed at receiving feedback (in the form of recommendations) from digital repository managers to improve the developed model to make it more useful for South African digital repositories. Furthermore, the study intended to yield further research into the complex topic of digital repository assessment based on international standards. Overall, this research study revealed that South African digital repositories are not far off in complying with the full requirements of international repository assessment standards.