Abstract:
The study investigated an Institutional Repository (IR) at Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN), one
of the constituent colleges of the University of Malawi. A mixed methods approach which was
implemented in two phases was adopted. In phase one, a questionnaire was sent to six library staff
and 35lecturers at KCN. In phase two, follow-up interviews were conducted with the Head of an
IR at KCN to seek clarification on some issues that came out after analysing the data collected in
phase one. Results show that an IR at KCN was established to increase access to health
information and to preserve institutionally produced documents. The contents of an IR at
KCN according to the findings include research articles, dissertations, administrative forms,
Ministry of Health Policies, Ministry of Education Policies, University of Malawi Policies, and
Laws of Malawi. Some of the benefits that have come along with the establishment of an IR
include: preservation of institutionally produced content and increased access to scholarly work
by the wider college community. However, accessing an IR via intranet only, coupled with poor
marketing of an IR, legal and copyright issues and unwillingness on the part of researchers
(lecturers) to submit their works for depositing in an IR are the key factors that militate against the
smooth running of an IR at KCN.
