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RepoMMan: the repository as service-oriented institutional infrastructure. Richard Green & Chris Awre Open Scholarship October 2006 University of Glasgow. Introduction. The University of Hull context and vision RepoMMan Metadata User requirements A service oriented approach.
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RepoMMan:the repository asservice-orientedinstitutionalinfrastructure • Richard Green & Chris Awre • Open Scholarship October 2006 • University of Glasgow
Introduction • The University of Hull context and vision • RepoMMan • Metadata • User requirements • A service oriented approach
University of Hull repository • Many older repositories adopt a ‘silo’ approach • Images, learning objects, research outputs... • Vision for Hull’s institutional repository is broad and ‘cross silo’ (research, admin, T&L etc) • Supporting the development of content as well as storage, management, access and preservation of completed objects • Allowing re-use of content across silo-boundaries (e.g., teaching/research nexus) • The repository as a key service within the institutional infrastructure
Fedora • Fedora : • Offers these underpinning capabilities • Is open source • Is scalable • Will cope with almost any file type • Provides the web service interfaces to embed itself in the University infrastructure • Can provide open access or secure storage • BUT (deliberately) has no user ‘front end’
Meeting expectations • ‘Repository software’ workflow may be specific to its areas of functionality; relatively inflexible • We want to fit the repository in with the user’s needs, expectations and environment • Technology meeting user needs rather than adapting needs to technology
RepoMMan • Repository Metadata and Management • Part of JISC Digital Repositories Programme • Project funded for two years to May 2007
RepoMMan • Closely aligned with University’s commitment to deploy an institutional repository • Technical development (workflow, automated metadata on Fedora) underpinned by user requirements • RepoMMan tool will be one of a number of repository services which will be built to work with Fedora allowing a more flexible needs-driven approach than other products generally allow
RepoMMan • RepoMMan tool is an open standards-based, flexible workflow tool to help users do what they already do, but in a repository context • Uses Fedora’s Web Service APIs and BPEL • Surfaced via University portal (uPortal) and Sakai C&LE • Provides the means to use storage, accessibility, backup, versioning ...
Metadata • Exposing materials requires good metadata • Portal can provide personal metadata • Tools like JHOVE can automatically generate technical metadata • Automatic descriptive metadata is something of a Holy Grail • Investigating ‘Kea’ (New Zealand Digital Library Project) and tools from NSDL/UC Riverside provided as part of ‘Data Fountains’
User requirements • Essential to meet user requirements • Requirements gathered through interview and on-line survey • Initial work centred on the needs of (some) researchers for a working tool right through the research process • ‘Some’ because not all need it and we are not in the game of mandating use for development of materials • Working now with colleagues in T&L, and admin
RepoMMan provision • The RepoMMan tool, in conjunction with Fedora, will provide: • A private working space that can (optionally) be shared with collaborators • Storage, accessibility, backup • Metadata creation on publication or on demand
Service-oriented • Fedora-based repository part of aim to provide flexible infrastructure services to enhance and facilitate business processes • Institutional portal and web-content management system are other services • Sakai C&LE may be added.
Three-tier stack RepoMMan tool Web services
Service-oriented • This is a service-oriented approach: allows services to be built to meet user need rather than dictating what the user will get. • Fedora provides service-oriented ability to work with digital content in a coherent and structured manner
Thank you • Richard Green - r.green@hull.ac.uk • Chris Awre - c.awre@hull.ac.uk • RepoMMan project • http://www.hull.ac.uk/esig/repomman/