The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Digital Repository Issues Task Force has released its final report. The task force was charged with evaluating trends, contextualizing repository activities among ARL libraries, and recommending leadership roles and activities for ARL.
The report, “The Research Library’s Role in Digital Repository Services,” identifies key issues surrounding repository development, explores common strategies that libraries are using, analyzes relevant environmental trends, discusses issues where ARL and its member libraries should focus attention, and recommends the following actions for research libraries to undertake:
Build a range of new kinds of partnerships and alliances, both within institutions and between institutions.
Base service-development strategies on substantive assessment of local needs rather than blindly replicating work done at another institution.
Engage with key local policy issues and stakeholders to encourage institutional engagement with national and international policy issues.
Develop outreach and marketing strategies that assist “early adopters” of repositories to connect with the developing repository-related service system.
Define a scope of responsibility to guide the development of repository services for varied forms of content. ...
The task force notes that, due to repository services’ powerful potential to enable key work and enhance the effectiveness of functions across the research enterprise, research institutions cannot afford to do without such services, even in difficult economic times. ... This report presents a fresh perspective on the digital repository environment and is intended to inspire ARL member libraries and others to assess their views and plans for service development. ...
Posted by
Gavin Baker at 2/04/2009 07:00:00 PM.
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.
