MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES OF ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN MAHARASHTRA: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Institutional repositories (IRs) support open access, scholarly communication, institutional visibility and the long-term stewardship of digital research outputs. Their sustainability, however, depends on management arrangements that extend beyond the installation of repository software. This paper synthesizes literature on the development and management of IRs in academic and research institutions, with particular attention to Maharashtra, India. It presents a document-based review of studies and reports assembled in the supplied literature-review manuscript; no new field survey or statistical test was undertaken. The synthesis is organized around institutional governance, content and participation, technical infrastructure, metadata and interoperability, copyright and access, preservation, human resources, finance and evaluation. Across the reviewed work, recurring problems include fragmented or absent repository policies, inconsistent deposit practices, limited contributor awareness, inadequate training and staffing, uneven metadata quality, copyright uncertainty and the cost of long-term preservation. Indian studies demonstrate the prominent role of academic libraries and frequent use of open-source platforms, while Maharashtra-focused accounts highlight both established initiatives and continuing opportunities for institution-level comparison. The paper proposes an integrated, six-domain management-and-evaluation framework linking policy, collection development, technology, rights, preservation and organizational sustainability to measurable operational indicators. It argues that repositories should be governed as continuing scholarly services rather than one-time technical projects. The review identifies priorities for repository managers and a research agenda for comparative, evidence-based evaluations across universities, colleges and research institutions in Maharashtra.