Institutional Repositories at Small Institutions in America: Some Current Trends

The research reported in this article was undertaken to determine the level of implementation of institutional repositories (IRs) at small institutions enrolling fewer than 10,000 students. The study analyzed quantitative and qualitative data from IRs at a number of small institutions with the aim of observing relevant patterns and trends that may or may not be unique to small institutions. The study concludes that IRs at small institutions exist in significant numbers, and they exhibit some unique patterns, particularly in the benefits and challenges specific to small institutions, the association with IR consortia, and the focus on student research.