Enhancing data accessibility in digital repositories:

Abstract

Digital repositories play a vital role in preserving and disseminating scholarly outputs. However, in many institutions, particularly in developing regions, access to stored data remains fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to navigate. The core problem lies in outdated interfaces, poor metadata quality, and lack of standardized mechanisms for data exposure. This study investigates how Web Application Programming Interfaces (Web APIs) and Linked Data technologies can enhance data accessibility in institutional digital repositories. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, involving a mixed-methods approach with surveys and interviews conducted in two Kenyan public universities. Findings revealed a moderate positive correlation between Web API and Linked Data adoption and data accessibility (Spearman’s rho = 0.367, p = 0.002). Qualitative data highlighted improvements in metadata harmonization and standardized exchange protocols, while implementation challenges included limited technical capacity and inconsistency. The study concludes that institutions implementing standardized APIs such as REST or GraphQL, along with semantic technologies like RDF, significantly enhance users’ ability to discover and retrieve repository content. It recommends targeted training, phased deployment, and policy reinforcement to support sustainable implementation