Digital repository management
From Digipedia
Contents |
OVERVIEW
Digital repository management refers to the maintenance of a collection of resources which have been born digital. Considerations include descriptions of the resources through metadata, maintenance of accessible copies as software changes and new hardware devices become available and ensuring that multiple copies of the resources are retained in a variety of secure environments. When built using open standards repositories can work better with external collections. A number of organisations provide advice and guidance on setting up and maintaining a repository.
Why repositories are important
It has become increasingly important for FE and HE institutions as part of their information strategy to be able to locate, use and share the intellectual assets of their teachers, students and administrative systems. In some cases repositories act as a record of the activity within the institution, a dynamic archive, whilst in others making this intellectual property available in the public domain is a condition of funding.
Sharing of learning objects (individual pieces of e-learning) is having an impact on cross-disciplinary teaching and learning and provides the means to support a range of learning styles with a variety of resources in a cost effective manner.
In Higher Education institutional repositories are seen as valuable tools to support the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) acting as they do as a record of the intellectual assets of the organisation including pre-prints of research undergoing peer review as well as post prints separate from papers that are submitted to commercial publishers. They also provide the means to store research theses and the datasets that support ongoing work in an institution.
Guidance on setting up and maintaining a repository
A number of national and international organisations provide information about creating and maintenance of repositories:
- JISC: Repositories briefing paper
- JISC discussion list for repositories
- Digital Curation Centre: Digital repositories
As noted above the use of open standards in creating a repository means that metadata about repositories can be shared across organisations and directories of multiple repositories are available online, thus supporting scholarly communication in a digital environment. Similarly repository resources need to be stored in open systems that are not dependent on proprietary software if they are to remain accessible over time and managers of repositories need to bear this in mind. Finally consideration should be given to security of the repository resources with back up copies being stored in a number of distinct and secure locations.
Related Digipedia article
Further information
JISC: Repositories briefing paper
Digital Curation Centre: Digital repositories
Open Archives (European database)
Register of Open Access Repositories