Open access publisher BioMed Central has boosted its Open Repository with open source features from digital content distributor DSpace to make it easier for customers to browse and submit material to the hosted repository solution online.
The latest version of Open Repository allows institutions to convert their Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text and RTF (Rich Text Format) documents to PDF (Portable Document Format). Customers can also set up RSS feeds, and customize lists and search fields.
Dominic Tate, business development manager at BioMed Central, said: "We have become increasingly involved with DSpace, and our technical architect, Graham Triggs, is responsible for the strategic direction of DSpace. We, in turn, feed some development back to DSpace."
Some of the features introduced to Open Repository were under development by DSpace. BioMed Central commissioned others to appeal to new and potential customers.
BioMed Central runs repositories for the Universities of Wales, Chester and Roehampton. The latter has recently switched from Proquest Digital because Open Repository represents "much better value for money," according to Pat Simons, bibliographic and technical services manager at Roehampton University....
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
