JISC

Final report now available

Repositories Start Up Project

The University of Bradford currently has a number of digital repositories within the university but it does not have an Institutional Repository. The principal examples are E-pository, which contains some learning objects (material from the library’s Special Collections) as well as being an archive for administration, and Virtual Scholars, the Library’s repository of postgraduate dissertations which uses the open source software DSpace. There are also some electronic collections of learning materials supported within departments.

Aims and objectives

The project builds on work already undertaken on developing a digital repository of postgraduate dissertations, Virtual Scholars. This has captured dissertations submitted in partial fulfilment of a postgraduate degree from the university since 2005. The drivers for the development of Virtual Scholars were the need to maximise the use of space in the library and the desire to make the material more readily available to the community.

The aim of the project is to develop Virtual Scholars to include postgraduate theses and to develop an Institutional Repository populated with scholarly output from one or more pilot academic areas.

The institutional repository will be a showcase for the intellectual output of the University of Bradford and is envisaged to include inter alia:

• M Phil and doctoral theses
• Existing electronic deposits; postgraduate dissertations, examination papers and archival material from the library’s special collections
• Electronic copies of articles and other academic papers of university staff and researchers
• The project supports the aims and values of the university’s Corporate Strategy and its e-strategy. These are available at:
  • http://www.brad.ac.uk/gateway/downloads/reports/corporate-strategy-summary.pdf
  • http://www.brad.ac.uk/corporateplan/e-strategy/

  Specific objectives include:

  • Identify and review the existing collections of materials that will feature in the IR
  • Investigate the needs of academic departments which an IR could meet and identify cultural issues that may act as a barrier for populating an IR
  • Establish the architecture of the repository and implement the technical solutions using DSpace
  • Establish procedures for deposit with academic departments, to include a deposit agreement
  • Establish a modus operandi with publishers with regard to copyright issues, utilising work done elsewhere by SHERPA and RoMEO
  • Establish and implement procedures for harvesting material already available at Schools
  • Set up a trial with a selected academic department
  • Investigate integration with local Blackboard installation and Content Management System, as well as other JISC funded repository services.
  • Produce documentation and training
  • Devise and execute a project exit strategy and plan for institution-wide implementation

  Project methodology

  The project worker will work towards achieving the objectives listed under “Aims and Objectives”. The Project Manager, Polly Dawes, also provides the technical support for the project. The University Librarian (Acting), Peter M. Ketley acts as the project sponsor.

  Anticipated outputs and outcomes

  A project plan and work packages

  • Risk log
  • Promotional materials
  • Progress reports
  • Biannual JISC progress reports
  • User requirements specification
  • Policies and metadata profile(s)
  • Repository with content from the pilot academic department(s)
  • Final report for JISC

  Project outputs will be made available through the BURP! web page as they are created.

  Technology / Standards used

  Document Standards: PDF, DOC

  Web Standards: HTML, XML, CSS

  Image Standards: GIF, PNG

  Metadata: Dublin Core

  Search Protocols: Z39.50, SRW

  Internet Transport: HTTP

  Metadata Harvesting: OAI-PMH

  Alerting: RSS

  Identifier: Handle, OpenURL

  Programming Language: Javascript, PERL

  Rights: Creative Commons

  Technology: DSpace