Digital transformation in academic libraries: implementing integrated research information systems for enhanced scholarly communication and institutional knowledge management | Digital Library Perspectives | Emerald Publishing

Abstract:  This study aims to examine the digital transformation of an interdisciplinary Ukrainian university through the implementation of a Current Research Information System (CRIS) under conditions of economic, staffing and administrative challenges using the case of Sumy State University.

This study employs a case study methodology focusing on the Scientific Results Management System (SRMS) developed at Sumy State University as a digital solution for universities. The research combines a systematic literature review of international CRIS development practices with a technical analysis of SRMS architecture. The methodology evaluates 18 unified scholarly metrics based on international standards and assesses the operational efficiency of the SRMS. The analysis includes automated metadata processing algorithms for integrating external scholarly databases and examination of user interaction patterns within the SRMS environment.

The literature review highlights key CRIS development practices, including interoperability, automation and integration with external scholarly databases. These patterns are reflected in the SRMS case study, which shows that the system operates as an effective institutional CRIS, centralising research output management at Sumy State University. SRMS automates metadata collection, provides role-based access control, implements automated duplicate detection, reduces administrative workload, improves data quality and provides analytical tools that support monitoring of research performance and institutional decision-making.

This research contributes new insights into the architecture and institutional deployment of CRIS tailored for academic environments, presenting one of the first comprehensive evaluations of CRIS implementation within a Ukrainian university context. The study outlines enhanced approaches to metadata interoperability and automated research information consolidation, providing empirical evidence for the effectiveness of integrated CRIS solutions in supporting scholarly communication, research evaluation and strategic management within universities.