Institutional Repositories

Institutional repositories are digital collections that capture and preserve the intellectual output of academic institutions. They contain scholarly works and research in various formats and stages of academic work. The goal is typically open access to research. Major systems for developing institutional repositories include DSpace, EPrints, Fedora, and Digital Commons. Key considerations for starting an institutional repository include getting faculty buy-in, submission policies, intellectual property issues, and interoperability through standards like OAI-PMH. Ensuring ongoing contributions and use remains a challenge.