From digital library to institutional repository a brief look at one library's path

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the initial transformation of one academic library's digital media library into the institutional repository IR of its entire academic organization. Designmethodologyapproach Provides a description of an academic digital library's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:OCLC Systems & Services: International digital library perspectives 2007, Vol.23 (4), p.382-394
Main Authors: Buehler, Marianne A., Trauernicht, Marcia S.
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Archives management
Digital libraries
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Summary:Purpose The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the initial transformation of one academic library's digital media library into the institutional repository IR of its entire academic organization. Designmethodologyapproach Provides a description of an academic digital library's evolution into an institutional repository, accompanied by both practical and philosophical analyses. Findings Materials supporting an academic institution's scholarship from colleges and from supporting organizations on campus can play an important part in the success of an institutional repository. Standards for metadata content, data structures and hierarchies of collections must be followed consistently, and adequate storage for digital media within an institutional repository is necessary to have in advance of anticipated demand for the smooth operation of the IR and continued access to materials. Gray areas between the role of an institutional repository and the role of that organization's archives need to be addressed in the future. Practical implications Academic libraries can be highly successful in producing an institute repository by developing relationships with various organizations on campus in addition to the academic programs. Maintaining standards throughout the IR is crucial to future growth in an organized and consistent manner. Philosophical considerations of the role of the IR should be addressed in the beginning stages of the development of the IR for eliminating confusion and duplication of its contents with other campus organizations. Originalityvalue This paper describes the development of a digital library, created and maintained by an academic library, and its gradual change into a de facto institutional repository. Other libraries in the planning stages or initial steps of creating a campuswide digital library or an institutional repository can benefit from the description of possible successes and problems that they could encounter during implementation.
ISSN:1065-075X
2054-1694
DOI:10.1108/10650750710831529