Design and evaluation of a digital repository for regional manuscripts in libraries

Thesis Abstract

The rapid digitization of regional manuscripts presents both opportunities and challenges for libraries seeking to preserve cultural heritage while enhancing access for researchers and the public. Despite growing interest in digital repositories, regional manuscript collections often remain fragmented across multiple institutions, with inconsistent metadata practices, limited interoperability, and variable preservation strategies, which impede discoverability and long-term stewardship. This study aims to design, implement, and evaluate a digital repository tailored to regional manuscripts in libraries, establishing a scalable model that enhances access, ensures authentic representation, and supports sustainable preservation. The primary aim is to develop a functional digital repository prototype for regional manuscripts, accompanied by an evidence-based evaluation framework that assesses usability, metadata quality, interoperability, preservation integrity, and user satisfaction. Specific objectives are (1) to conduct a needs assessment across five regional libraries to identify user requirements, metadata standards, and technical feasibility; (2) to design a repository architecture that integrates Dublin Core and METS/MODS metadata schemas with linked data capabilities; (3) to implement a working prototype using open-source components (DSpace-based) and demonstrate ingest workflows, access controls, and preservation policies; (4) to evaluate usability and discoverability among 120 participants comprising researchers, librarians, and students using task-based usability tests and post-task questionnaires; (5) to assess metadata quality and interoperability through crosswalk analyses with international standards and a preservation risk assessment using the OAIS framework; (6) to measure repository performance, scalability, and cost implications over a 12-month pilot; and (7) to formulate governance and sustainability recommendations for wider adoption. The study adopts a design, implementation, and evaluation research design within a mixed-methods paradigm, drawing on activity theory and the OAIS (Open Archival Information System) reference model alongside the Collection Management and Digital Curation frameworks. The population includes librarians, archivists, and researchers associated with five regional libraries and 300 potential scholarly users identified through library catalogs and university partnerships. A purposive sample of 40 librarians/archivists for the design phase and 120 end-users for the evaluation phase will be engaged. Data collection instruments comprise a requirements survey, interview guides, system usage logs, task-based usability tests, standardized SUS (System Usability Scale) questionnaires, metadata quality checklists, crosswalk templates for interoperability assessment, and a preservation risk scoring matrix. Validation will involve triangulation across instruments, pilot testing, and expert review by digital librarians and information science professors. Data analysis will employ a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Usability data will be analyzed with descriptive statistics, ANOVA to compare user groups, and regression analysis to identify predictors of task success. Metadata quality will be evaluated using a rubric assessing completeness, accuracy, consistency, specificity, and adherence to standards, with inter-rater reliability established via Cohen’s kappa. Interoperability will be examined through crosswalk accuracy and semantic alignment metrics. Preservation assessments will use the OAIS-based risk scoring and survivability projections. Qualitative interviews and open-ended survey responses will undergo thematic analysis to extract perceived barriers, enablers, and stakeholder expectations, with coding corroborated by member checking. System logs will inform performance metrics, including ingest throughput, search response time, and uptime, analyzed via time-series methods. Expected findings include improved discoverability and retrieval efficiency for regional manuscripts, higher metadata quality and standardization, demonstrable interoperability with national and international digital libraries, and favorable user satisfaction ratings indicating the prototype’s practicality for broader deployment. The study is anticipated to reveal cost-effective maintenance strategies, data governance requirements, and scalable workflows suitable for replication in other regional contexts. The contribution to knowledge lies in presenting a replicable, standards-based repository design for regional manuscripts that integrates preservation planning, interoperability, and user-centered evaluation, thereby bridging library science theory with tangible digital stewardship practices. The conclusion will emphasize the feasibility and value of a regional manuscript repository as a model for sustainable digital heritage management, with recommendations including iterative metadata refinement, community-driven collection development, secure long-term preservation funding, and policy development for multi-institution collaboration.