Our first project task is to conduct a nationwide census of institutional repositories. Invitations to the Web-based survey will be e-mailed to about 2,100 directors of college and university libraries throughout the U.S. Data gathered will be used to examine numerous issues in institutional repositories including perceived benefits, factors influencing on IR implementation decision, leadership, contributors, content, policies, funding model, and collaboration with various campus units. 

Our sample will include not only the institutions which implemented institutional repositories but also those which have no planning, some planning, and pilot testing. Our objectives in TASK 1 are to identify the wide range of practices, policies, and operations in institutional repositories and to begin to characterize the successful cases.

The subtasks required to accomplish Activity 1 are: (1) identifying populations for survey (2) drafting, pre-testing and refining the web-based questionnaire, (3) collecting data including encouraging and reminding repository staff to complete web-based questionnaires, and (4) analyzing data for fruitful areas of inquiry and in search of successful repositories for follow-up phone interviews.