An Analytical Study of End-Users’ Utility Behaviour towards Selected Institutional Repositories of CSIR Laboratories

Institutional Repositories (IRs) have become vital digital platforms for preserving and disseminating scholarly knowledge generated within research institutions. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed institutional repositories across its laboratories to promote open access and enhance research visibility. The present study examines the utility behaviour of end users towards institutional repositories in selected CSIR laboratories. The study focuses on users’ awareness, frequency of use, purposes of access, perceived usefulness, and challenges encountered while using IR services. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 100 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that although a majority of users are aware of institutional repositories and acknowledge their usefulness, actual utilization remains moderate due to limited training, technical constraints, and usability issues. The study highlights the need for systematic awareness programmes, improved infrastructure, and supportive institutional policies to enhance effective utilization. Strengthening these areas will contribute to improved research visibility, knowledge sharing, and long-term sustainability of institutional repositories within CSIR laboratories.