DSpace Roundtable Discussion

1
DSpace (Roundtable Discussion)
Using DSpace to Administer an ETD Program
The Drexel Experience
Stephen Janick, Archivist
Tom McLaughlin, Webmaster
Drexel University Libraries in Philadelphia, PA
The 7th International Symposium on
Electronic Theses Dissertations 2004
June 3-5
University of Kentucky in Lexington
2
ETDs _at_ Drexel

• Program began in June 2001
• HTML pages/frames
• Voluntary
• PDF format

3
ETDs _at_ Drexel

• Mandatory for PH.D. students-April 2002
• Numbers rise, problems multiply, new staff
• Decision to deploy Eprints

4
Eprints

• Early decision to make changes
• Browse by Author
• Site-specific subject information
• Problems
• Server
• Submittal process

5
Decision to Move to DSpace

• Presidents comment, new server
• April 2003
• Current of titles 165

6
Features of DSpace
Metadata

• Dublin Core one size fits all
• Lack of ETD specific metadata lack of desirable
  functionality

7
Features of DSpace
Communities and Collections

• Too flat, provision for more layers needed
• Semantic flexibility required

8
Features of DSpace
User Interface

• Professional appearance (inspires confidence)
• Problems with orientation What is DSpace?
• Problems with submission process Need to
  register, select Sign on to My DSpace to
  deposit an item

9
Technical Issues
Back End Issues

• Robust, easy to maintain
• Ability to finely control the properties of
  communities and collections
• Need to provide for collection-specific
  administrators

10
Technical Issues
Handle Server

• Uses Corporation for National Research
  Initiatives (CNRI) handle system
• Supports long-term access and responsible
  scholarship

11
Technical issues
OAI/PMH Support

• Fully supports
• But frustrating, time-consuming and still not
  functioning
• Essential

12
Technical Issues
Security/Preservation

• No major issues with security
• Preservation at Drexel 2 print, 3 electronic
  copies

13
Conclusions
Advantages of Using DSpace with ETDs

• Growing user community/support of implementers
• User interface
• Administrative functionality
• Search capacity
• Reliability

14
Conclusions
Disadvantages of Using DSpace with ETDs

• Lack of features
• Inability to support (at Drexel) online
  submission
• Continuing problems with OAI-PMH support

15
Recommendations
With Regards to DSpace

• Change menu options to better reflect actual user
  tasks
• Limit use of sign in/register feature
• Provide for creation of sub-communities
• Provide for more fine-grained assignment of
  administrative responsibilities

16
Acknowledgements
Drexel University Libraries http//www.drexel.edu
/academics/libraries.asp
DSpace Federation http//www.dspace.org/
DSpace URL at Drexel
http//dspace.library.drexel.edu/handle/1860/10