Awareness and use of persistent identifiers in research data repositories by academic librarians in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study investigates the awareness and use of persistent identifiers (PIDs) by academic librarians in Zimbabwe’s research data repositories. PIDs are essential in ensuring the discoverability, accessibility, and citability of research data. However, little is known about the level of awareness and use of these tools among academic librarians in Zimbabwe. A sequential mixed methods approach was employed, beginning with a questionnaire administered to scholarly communication librarians who were purposively selected. Quantitative data from the questionnaires provided an overview of the current landscape regarding PIDs in Zimbabwean higher education institutions. This informed the design of a focus group discussion which allowed for a deeper exploration of the themes identified in the survey, facilitating an understanding of the challenges of using PIDs within universities. The findings indicated that although the librarians were aware of PIDs, no institution has an institutional research data repository in the country. Challenges that were faced in integrating PIDs include lack of expertise, unclear policies, and infrastructure costs. The study will be significant in informing policy development, capacity-building initiatives, and creating guidelines for integrating PIDs into research workflows.