title: DIGITAL RECORDS CURATION AT THE EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES (IRS)
creators: Juliet Erima Tshepho L. Mosweu
abstract: Most of the knowledge generated in academic institutions today is in digital form. Given that institutional repositories (IRs) across universities receive, preserve and make access to digital assets. The aim of this study is to assess the status of digital curation at Institutional repositories in selected Universities in Botswana and Kenya. The study takes a quantitative approach whereby data was collected through survey questionnaires administered amongst university IR staff in Botswana and Kenya. The data collected was analysed and presented with tables and figures. The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Functional Model was used in this study as a lens to investigate the problem. The findings of the study show that public universities in Botswana and Kenya have established IRs that ingest digital records into their custody. Most resources ingested include thesis and publications by academic staff and students. These IRs store their digital records on local servers and other storages like CDs. This study found that the majority of the IRs both in Botswana and Kenya do not have digital records preservation plans. This study recommends the use of the OAIS model to preserve, manage and make access to digital records at East and Southern African public Universities Institutional Repositories.
keywords: botswana kenya universities digital records curation institutional repositories