Service number 05
Institutional Repository Setup
Most repositories fail on policy and workflow rather than software. We set up the platform, but we spend more time on who deposits what, in which version, under which licence, because that is what decides whether a repository fills up or sits empty.
| Platforms | DSpace or EPrints, per institutional preference |
|---|---|
| Interoperability | OAI-PMH 2.0, Dublin Core and qualified profiles |
| Identifiers | Handle or DOI integration where subscribed |
| Content types | Theses, articles, reports, datasets, institutional records |
Section 01
What you receive.
- Installed and configured repository with community and collection structure
- Deposit policy covering versions, embargo, licensing and withdrawal
- Metadata application profile with controlled vocabularies
- OAI-PMH endpoint configured and validated against harvesters
- Administrator handbook and depositor guidance
Section 02
How the work runs.
- Agree scope, content types and the responsible owner for each
- Draft deposit and licensing policy for institutional approval
- Configure structure, workflows, permissions and metadata profile
- Load an initial batch and validate the harvesting endpoint
- Train administrators and hand over documentation
Section 03
Who this is for.
- Universities establishing a repository for the first time
- Institutions with a repository that has stalled after launch
- Bodies needing OAI-PMH compliance for national aggregation
Section 04
Questions we are usually asked.
- Do you host the repository?
- The repository runs on infrastructure the institution controls, whether on campus or on its own cloud account. We configure and hand over; custody of the content remains with the institution throughout.
- What if we already have a repository that nobody uses?
- We start with why. Usually it is an unclear deposit route, an unapproved policy, or a metadata profile too heavy for depositors. Those are fixable without replacing the platform.
Section 05
Enquire about institutional repository setup.
Tell us the size of the collection, the systems already in use, and the deadline you are working to. That is enough for a useful first reply.