JISC

Repositories Start Up Project

The purpose of NECTAR is to showcase and preserve the research outputs of university members, enabling the university to be positioned as a resource not only within its immediate locality but also nationally and internationally.  NECTAR content will include research papers, non-text research outputs and research theses. 

Aims and objectives 

• To build a digital institutional repository that will showcase and preserve research outputs from The University of Northampton.
• To ensure that the repository follows open standards.  
• To explore issues surrounding the management and use of digital material in non-text formats, setting in place protocols that will inform other repositories.
• To embed deposit in NECTAR into the customary workflow of researchers at the university.  
• To support the collection and management of research reporting at The University of Northampton.
• To disseminate information about the repository.  
• To link the repository with local and regional observatories, so extending the potential reach of the project.

Project methodology

The NECTAR project will be overseen and advised by a Steering Group comprising senior managers from the Department of Information Services and the research community.  The Steering Group will be responsible for directing the project, determining policy and demonstrating high level support for NECTAR to the rest of the university.

Day-to-day work on the project will be undertaken by a Project Team.  The Project team will be responsible for developing the repository, advising on metadata, producing informational and instructional materials, and advocating NECTAR to researchers.   

Administrative staff will assist in the population of the repository.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• A sustainable open access institutional repository to hold the research outputs of university members.  Content will include, but not be limited to: articles in refereed and non-refereed journals; book chapters; conference papers; performances and exhibitions (including audio, video and digital images) and research degree theses.
• Policies and procedures that will allow NECTAR to be firmly embedded within the working practices of university researchers.
• A comprehensive data source for university research reporting.
• Shareable expertise in the area of digitising and curating non-text research material.
• An advocacy programme to promote the benefits of NECTAR and of open access publishing.

Technology / Standards used

NECTAR will conform to the standards for digitization, metadata and interoperability required by the JISC Information Environment.  NECTAR will be built on Eprints Version 3 software.

Lead Institution

University of Northampton