Factors influencing the trustworthiness of digital repositories in Nigerian university libraries

This study examines the factors influencing the trustworthiness of digital repositories (TDR) in Nigerian university libraries, guided by Pettit's Theory of Trust. A quantitative survey research design was employed, and data were collected from 262 registered librarians in universities located in the south-west geo-political zone of Nigeria using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the identified TDR factors (repository certification, high-level preservation, authenticating the authorship, financial sustainability, participation of key stakeholders, organization policies, adherence to accepted practices, and technological standards) and efficient service delivery. Authorship authentication was found to be the primary factor in enhancing trust. Notably, the findings indicate that 85.2% of effective service delivery is attributed to factors associated with dependable digital repositories. The study recommends that university libraries invest in technologies supporting local content digitization to enhance digital repository deployment and sustainability, ultimately promoting trustworthy digital repositories.