Some notes:
There are many opensource software packages that can do the repository thing.
There's a Guide to Institutional Repository Software at BOAI
(http://www.soros.org/openaccess/software/) that gives a brief overview of the
most popular packages. I personally like ARNO, based on the writeup, but
dspace & eprints are perhaps the most well known. And dspace seems to have a
good workflow arrangement.
The cmte will have to slough thru the doc to choose the best one for our
purposes. I note that there's also a nice comparison table at
http://www.soros.org/openaccess/pdf/OSI_Guide_to_IR_Software_Table_v3.pdf
As to whether everything should be in one place or be distributed - I think
this depends on how we structure the thing as a whole, and on which software
package is chosen.
It's important that Swinburne is willing to consider being site #1 - even if
we end up distributing it, at least we can start sooner.
Cheers.
Fil
Ken Friedman wrote:
> Friends,
>
> Tuesday evening, Chris Rust suggested that we ought to develop a digital
> repository for design research. With an eye to long-term maintenance, he
> requested an offer from someone willing to provide this resource with a
> commitment to long-term support. I offered to explore the possibilities
> at Swinburne University.
>
> As stated in a post to the list, the idea is that Swinburne should
> provide server space and support while the Design Research Society
> organizes a committee to manage content. This committee would make all
> decisions on standards, governance, and policy.
>
> Yesterday, the Vice Chancellor of Swinburne and the Deputy Vice
> Chancellor for Research both stated that they support the idea. While
> there is some way to go between the initial offer and a working project,
> the way to meeting Chris's request seems open.
>
> Chris and I conferred, and we decided to convene a meeting at the
> Sheffield DRS conference to talk this over with interested parties. We
> are also collecting names for the committee, and this may include people
> who do not come to Sheffield.
>
> In the ensuing conversation, David Durling suggested that a distributed
> model might be better on the grounds that some people may be concerned
> about one university controlling the repository. In the model I
> proposed, no university would control the repository -- Swinburne would
> take responsibility for the repository much as the Los Alamos National
> Laboratory is responsible for the physics paper server. The DRS
> committee would control the repository through decisions on standards,
> governance, and policy.
>
> While I understand the concern over control, it never crossed my mind
> that this would be a problem. Control and governance are determined by
> the agreements that establish the repository. Once all parties have
> signed the agreement, the agreement obliges everyone involved to abide
> by the system we create.
>
> As it stands now, there are two rough models for the system.
>
> In one model, one university would provide a server with commitments for
> long-term support. The server would be governed by a committee that DRS
> organizes on behalf of the field. I suggested to Chris that this
> committee should welcome representatives from outside DRS, and the
> server should be open to content from the entire field based on the
> standards and policies determined by the committee.
>
> In the other model, a group of universities and design research
> societies would form a consortium provide a server network. The network
> would be governed by a committee that DRS and possibly other societies
> organize on behalf of the field. I imagine this committee would welcome
> broad representation, and the network would be open to content from the
> entire field based on the standards and policies determined by the
> committee.
>
> There are advantages to both models, and there may be other models
> still. It's up to the design research community. I'm committed to
> supporting any model that works.
>
> Someone asked me off-list which model we prefer. My answer is that we
> prefer whichever model suits the community.
>
> If you have ideas or proposals, float them here or send them to Chris.
> Chris is on vacation until April 21st, so he won't answer right away.
> Come to Sheffield this July and let's pursue the proposal.
>
> There is only thing that won't work is losing track of the idea and
> failing to follow through. We are ready to contribute to a digital
> design research repository in whatever way the DRS committee decides to
> move forward. If we all agree on that, we can launch the first version
> of a Design Research Repository before the end of 2008.
>
> Warm wishes,
>
> Ken
>
--
Prof. Filippo A. Salustri, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Ryerson University Tel: 416/979-5000 x7749
350 Victoria St. Fax: 416/979-5265
Toronto, ON email: [log in to unmask]
M5B 2K3 Canada http://deseng.ryerson.ca/~fil/
|