Repository Software and Services: you have a choice

(probably a wider choice than you think)

Steve HitchcockSchool of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS),

Southampton University

Presented atOpen Scholarship 2006, Glasgow, 18th October 2006

Why repository services?

A range of software for building IRs is available for free and for a fee

Implementing the repository may still require a range of skills that are not available at all institutions

Repository services can provide expert skills, typically for building new to specification; customisation; hosting; importing legacy files; training; technical support, etc.

Repository services are a remarkably cost-effective way of buying in those skills when needed, or to supplement existing support teams

Introducing EPrints Services

EPrints is the only IR software offered as both open source and via paid-for services provided by the developer team

Launched 2005 http://www.eprints.org/services/

Clients include:• UK HEIs• International organisations• Research institutes• Commercial companies

EPrints software v3.0

"More power, fewer keystrokes!“• Beta: Oct. 31, Release candidate 1: Dec. 2006

Full release: January 2007• Some key features

– Import, export plugins – New XML import/export format– Redesigned editorial review– Improved programming interface– Embargo support – Audit trail – Programmable workflow

Why institutions need a repository

Visibility, access and impact of the research outputs from your institution … and many more reasons to be revealed at OS07

Two new imperatives (for UK HEIs):• Research council mandates (MRC, BBRC, ESRC,

NERC)• JISC matched funding call for Repository Start-Up and

Enhancement projects (Circular 04/06: Appendix G)

New! EPrints Services Repository Starter kit

Aimed at smaller institutions planning bids to JISC call for Repository Start-Up projects

Fully functional and locally configured Institutional Repository up and running within a week

Delivered: EPrints version 3 repository with institutional visual identity, institutional structure for browsing/searching and institutional authentication for registered user accounts.

Extras• Training for repository manager and administrator (offsite);

telephone and email priority support line; hosting and backup; consultancy and bespoke development

Prices start from £5000

Summary: removing the barriers

• “We don’t need an IR”– Be prepared to help your authors comply with research

funder mandates on open access to research papers

• “IRs are too expensive”– JISC is offering funding for new repositories, and for

improving repositories, in the UK– You have a choice of IR software from free to fee

• “We don’t have the skills to build an IR”– Repository services: use the experts to save time and

money in building your IR

This week you will find many reasons to have an IR; now there are no reasons not to have an IR