Assessing Digital Repository Practices in Public Libraries: An Empirical Study

Thesis Abstract

Digital repositories in public libraries are increasingly central to access, preservation, and dissemination of local cultural heritage, yet practices vary widely and often lack systematic assessment of governance, metadata quality, user engagement, and sustainability. The study addresses the gap between policy aspirations and operational practices in public library digital repositories, focusing on how repository management, metadata standards, user services, and long-term preservation intersect to influence discoverability and reuse of digital assets. The aim is to empirically evaluate current repository practices and identify determinants of repository performance, with particular attention to alignment with professional standards and community needs. Specific objectives are (1) to assess governance structures, funding models, and staff competencies that support repository operations; (2) to evaluate metadata quality, interoperability, and adherence to national and international standards; (3) to analyze user access patterns, satisfaction, and perceived barriers to reuse; (4) to examine preservation workflows, risk management, and sustainability planning; and (5) to develop a evidence-based framework for improving repository practices in public libraries. A mixed-methods design will be employed. The population comprises public libraries with active digital repositories within the country’s metropolitan and regional networks (n ? 120 libraries). A stratified random sample will select 36 libraries, ensuring representation across size, funding models, and geographic regions. Quantitative data will be collected via a structured survey of repository managers and a metadata quality audit of 3600 digital objects (100 objects per library) to measure metadata completeness, accuracy, and schema compliance using a standardized scoring rubric aligned with Dublin Core, PREMIS, and METS guidelines. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and ANOVA will test relationships between governance variables, metadata quality, and user engagement metrics (e.g., download counts, session duration). Qualitative data will be gathered through semi-structured interviews with 54 librarians, IT staff, and repository administrators, and through focus groups with 6–8 community library users per region to elicit experiences and expectations. Thematic analysis will identify patterns related to workflows, training needs, and perceived value. Data triangulation will integrate quantitative indicators with qualitative insights to provide a holistic assessment. Key expected findings include (i) variable governance and funding adequacy significantly predict metadata quality scores (? > .30, p < .01); (ii) higher metadata quality correlates with increased user discovery and reuse (r ? .45, p < .01); (iii) preservation planning maturity (e.g., versioning, format risk assessment) varies by library size and leads to differing risk profiles; (iv) user-facing services such as search optimization, persistent identifiers, and interoperability with national catalogs are associated with higher user satisfaction, while staff training gaps constrain effective stewardship; (v) a practical, scalable framework for governance, metadata, preservation, and user engagement emerges from cross-library best practices. The study contributes to knowledge by providing empirical benchmarks for digital repository practices in public libraries, clarifying how organizational, technical, and user-centered factors interact to influence repository performance, and offering a validated framework to guide capacity-building, policy development, and resource allocation. It extends theory by integrating institutional governance and resource-based perspectives with information behavior models to explain usage patterns in public-library repositories, and it tests the applicability of metadata quality and preservation maturity models in a diverse, real-world setting. Practical implications include actionable recommendations for standardizing governance structures, enhancing metadata workflows, expanding preservation planning, and designing user-centered interfaces. The conclusion highlights the necessity of targeted staff development, sustainable funding, and ongoing assessment using a composite repository performance index, and recommends phased implementation of the proposed framework with periodic re-evaluation to demonstrate impact on access, reuse, and long-term viability of public-library digital collections.