New Roles for Librarians: Skills Set for Repository Controllers-a Study

In the system of library and information science the open access movement in scholarly communication has grown considerably over the last ten years and it has driven an increase in the number of institutional repositories (IRs). New professional roles and skills had to be developed to secure effective IR management. Referring to the work a survey carried to the skills set for repository staff, the authors performed a survey among repository managers in Bangalore to assess the educational and professional background of the repository controllers and the skills set required to implement successful institutional repositories. The survey findings show that the professional profile of the repository controllers is multiform and complex one. It requires cross functional and highly specialised competencies. Bangalore repository controllers are of the opinion that the skills required to promote the repository within the institution and those required to deal with copyright issues as the most essential skills repository controllers should acquire and be trained for, collection development and metadata expertise, familiarity with project management in repository workflow design are also highly rated.