Title:
University of Pretoria beats to a different drum: UPSpace in rhythm with research
University of Pretoria beats to a different drum: UPSpace in rhythm with research
Author(s)
Olivier, Elsabe
Smith, Ina
Smith, Ina
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to
Permanent Link
Abstract
The world-wide paradigm is to make research collections available online, thereby improving access to information and adding value to the research process. Since the facilitation of access to information (for research as well as e-research purposes) is a primary function of the Academic Information Service (library of the University of Pretoria), the library took the initiative to implement a digital research repository in order to manage, organize, preserve, distribute and offer access to research conducted by the members of the University of Pretoria’s community. The implementation of this repository is in support of the e-strategy formulated by the library management team, and strongly supports open access to digitally borne and non-digitally borne items after being digitized. The latter can, for example, also include rare sources to which access in the past had been restricted.
Currently the repository of the University of Pretoria covers mainly three areas:
- Historical/archival material, e.g. artifacts, photos like the Gerard Moerdyk and the Mapungubwe Collections
- Scholarly material, e.g. post-prints of published articles like the OpenUP Collection
- Popular material e.g. interviews, media columns like the Jonathan Jansen Collection
In this paper we would like to demonstrate to you how we have utilized DSpace open source software to address the very specific needs of researchers at a South African higher education institution in the areas listed above. We shall share with you not only the lessons learnt, but also our successes during the implementation following the top-down approach. We shall discuss the problems we encountered and the ways in which we addressed and still address them.
The four “champion” collections that will be demonstrated are:
The Gerard Moerdyk Collection
The Gerard Moerdyk [Moerdijk] Collection was established in cooperation with the personnel and students of the Department of Architecture and library staff. It includes photographs and newspaper clippings of this well-known South African architect.
The Mapungubwe Collection
The Mapungubwe Research Collection on UPSpace serves as a research and public information resource, essential to the interpretation and dissemination of knowledge on Mapungubwe. The extensive research collection consists of accredited research publications, unpublished material such as theses, reports and other documents, photographs, negatives, slides, maps, manuscripts, commercial publications, newspaper clippings, audio-visuals, drawings, site plans, excavation and site reports.
OpenUP Collection
This collection offers open access to the full text of research articles published by staff, students and affiliates of the University of Pretoria. These items are identical in content to their published counterparts. It is linked to the Research Information System and complements the Annual Research Report of the University of Pretoria
The Jonathan Jansen Collection
The Jonathan Jansen Collection is one of the first personalized collections on UPSpace, the institutional repository of the University of Pretoria. Its main purpose is to bring together and preserve the intellectual output of the dean of the Faculty of Education in digital format. It serves as a central archive of his publications (popular as well as research articles), radio and TV interviews, photographs and even PowerPoint presentations since 1990 to current.
This paper will conclude with the plan for improved cooperation and involvement with Faculty and other groups and future deployment of UPSPace on the campus of the University of Pretoria.
The world-wide paradigm is to make research collections available online, thereby improving access to information and adding value to the research process. Since the facilitation of access to information (for research as well as e-research purposes) is a primary function of the Academic Information Service (library of the University of Pretoria), the library took the initiative to implement a digital research repository in order to manage, organize, preserve, distribute and offer access to research conducted by the members of the University of Pretoria’s community. The implementation of this repository is in support of the e-strategy formulated by the library management team, and strongly supports open access to digitally borne and non-digitally borne items after being digitized. The latter can, for example, also include rare sources to which access in the past had been restricted.
Currently the repository of the University of Pretoria covers mainly three areas:
- Historical/archival material, e.g. artifacts, photos like the Gerard Moerdyk and the Mapungubwe Collections
- Scholarly material, e.g. post-prints of published articles like the OpenUP Collection
- Popular material e.g. interviews, media columns like the Jonathan Jansen Collection
In this paper we would like to demonstrate to you how we have utilized DSpace open source software to address the very specific needs of researchers at a South African higher education institution in the areas listed above. We shall share with you not only the lessons learnt, but also our successes during the implementation following the top-down approach. We shall discuss the problems we encountered and the ways in which we addressed and still address them.
The four “champion” collections that will be demonstrated are:
The Gerard Moerdyk Collection
The Gerard Moerdyk [Moerdijk] Collection was established in cooperation with the personnel and students of the Department of Architecture and library staff. It includes photographs and newspaper clippings of this well-known South African architect.
The Mapungubwe Collection
The Mapungubwe Research Collection on UPSpace serves as a research and public information resource, essential to the interpretation and dissemination of knowledge on Mapungubwe. The extensive research collection consists of accredited research publications, unpublished material such as theses, reports and other documents, photographs, negatives, slides, maps, manuscripts, commercial publications, newspaper clippings, audio-visuals, drawings, site plans, excavation and site reports.
OpenUP Collection
This collection offers open access to the full text of research articles published by staff, students and affiliates of the University of Pretoria. These items are identical in content to their published counterparts. It is linked to the Research Information System and complements the Annual Research Report of the University of Pretoria
The Jonathan Jansen Collection
The Jonathan Jansen Collection is one of the first personalized collections on UPSpace, the institutional repository of the University of Pretoria. Its main purpose is to bring together and preserve the intellectual output of the dean of the Faculty of Education in digital format. It serves as a central archive of his publications (popular as well as research articles), radio and TV interviews, photographs and even PowerPoint presentations since 1990 to current.
This paper will conclude with the plan for improved cooperation and involvement with Faculty and other groups and future deployment of UPSPace on the campus of the University of Pretoria.
Sponsor
Date Issued
2007-02-22
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Audio
Audio
Resource Subtype
Presentation
Proceedings
Proceedings