EROS - Edge hill Research Online Store (Institutional Repository)

The project

The project aims to create and populate an institutional repository to improve the storage, preservation, retrieval and use of Edge Hill University’s research outputs. It will start with an analysis of user needs to help identify and procure the repository solution which is the best fit for Edge Hill. The project will focus on the cultural embedding of the repository, underpinned by workflows and policies which will facilitate use of the repository in line with Edge Hill’s existing practices and systems wherever possible. The issue of sustainability after the end of project funding will be addressed by ensuring that plans are in place to secure ongoing commitment in terms of funding, population and use of the repository. The project exists within the context of previous repository start-ups and will draw significantly on the knowledge that already exists in the sector, as well as disseminating lessons learned at Edge Hill to inform future repository projects beyond the institution.

Background

Nationally and internationally, digital repositories are becoming an increasingly important feature of the research information environment. Repositories provide the mechanism for cost-effective dissemination of research outputs and a means of preserving materials. Repositories freely allow open access to articles, conference proceedings, theses and research data. The JISC community has accumulated and made available a considerable body of knowledge on the implementation and use of digital repositories (through projects such as the RSP, SHERPA, OpenDOAR, Streamline and PERSoNA), which we will draw on to ensure best practice in the implementation of Edge Hill’s institutional repository.

The creation of a digital repository at Edge Hill is particularly timely as the University was granted Research Degree Awarding Powers in 2008. Currently the University does not have a repository. Our experience in preparing for RDAP highlighted the current lack of effective collation of research outputs, and given the increase in research activity that will follow the award of RDAP, creating a digital repository is an urgent priority for Edge Hill. Our ability to make our research outputs known and cited is likely to become more important under the new Research Excellence Framework (REF), and enabling open access through a digital repository will increase citation counts.

Edge Hill has a growing research community. More than half of staff are engaged in research considered to be of national or international significance and there are currently eight research centres at Edge Hill.
A repository would offer significant benefits including:
• increased visibility of research output, and therefore potentially greater impact
• better storage and management of digital research content
• greater sharing of knowledge and improved scholarly communication
• greater visibility of digitally born multimedia content
• a bank of easily accessible outputs that could be drawn upon for teaching purposes

Aims and Objectives

The over-arching aim of the project is to increase the profile and accessibility of Edge Hill’s research through the creation of an institutional repository in which staff and student research outputs in a variety of formats are made openly available via the internet. The repository will make use of software and protocols which will allow it to be cross-searchable with other repositories nationally and internationally. Within this aim, the project has the following objectives:
• To identify, source and implement a technical platform for a repository to store the University’s research output
• To learn from, test and build on examples of good practice from repository start-up projects in other
institutions
• To enable the storage, retrieval and use of research outputs including theses, grey literature and digitally
born audio and video media
• To increase the visibility of the University’s grey literature research output (e.g. NHS and TDA commissioned reports) to facilitate knowledge transfer and marketing of expertise
• To explore means of compressing large files without compromising the integrity of data
• To develop workflows for populating the repository
• To establish the repository’s role as a focus for the activity of the University’s growing research community
• To facilitate the process of research development planning and administration
• To provide a home for research outputs from Edge Hill’s Further Education partner institutions and
collaborative research activity between the University and these partners
• To explore federated search options through the library management system
• To put plans in place to ensure the repository is sustainable beyond the period of the project
• To share good practice and lessons learned with the Higher Education community through channels such as
the RSP

For further information, follow the EROS blog here >>>

Last updated: 27-Apr-2009