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Digital Archives and Institutional Repositories A Sabbatical Report. Dorothy Byers Engineering Library July 20, 2005. Three purposes. Investigate USC Digital Archives and use of Documentum, contemplated for use at OhioLINK’s Digital Resource Commons (DRC)
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Digital Archives and Institutional RepositoriesA Sabbatical Report Dorothy Byers Engineering Library July 20, 2005
Three purposes • Investigate USC Digital Archives and use of Documentum, contemplated for use at OhioLINK’s Digital Resource Commons (DRC) • Prepare a pilot engineering repository with state-wide potential on DRC • Set the story straight on Joseph B. Strauss, Chief Engineer of Golden Gate Bridge and UC graduate
1. USC and Documentum • Worked in metadata group at USC October-December 2004 • Prepared metadata for photo archives • Attended meetings of teams working on migration from home-grown legacy system to Documentum • Reported difficulties with the migration to OhioLINK
2. Institutional repositories • Studied MIT’s DSpace in depth October 04 and February 05 • Visited CalTech and CODA team in December 04 • Prepared proposal for OhioLINK’s DRC to house tech reports of UC’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department • Now waiting while OhioLINK develops the DRC using Fedora in lieu of Documentum • Will advise DRC during development
3. Joseph B. Strauss • Conducted research about Strauss • Cincinnati Historical Society • American Jewish Archive • Stanford Archives • Berkeley Archives (Water Resources and also Environmental Design) • Began web site about Strauss
3. Strauss cont. • Web site about Strauss • Correct false information recently published (re credentials) • PBS American Experience DVD Golden Gate Bridge • “Case of the missing engineer” article • Shed light on Strauss separate from the Golden Gate Bridge
What was learned? • Digital archives • takes VERY sophisticated staff and equipment • open access software may be worth the effort • Institutional repositories (IR) • Simple systems lack • searching across collections • ability to manage wide variety of media • object-to-object relationship definitions • Harvesting capabilities
What was learned cont. • Institutional repositories cont. • Complex systems • Require manpower • Are costly, especially if proprietary • Open access seems most promising • Metadata are all-important • Require some PR • For departments to participate • For patrons to benefit
What was learned cont. • Joseph B. Strauss web site • Initial attempt to use Dreamweaver • How to mount various types of materials • Tricks of the trade in doing archival research and documenting findings • Facts about Strauss • Civil Engineering curriculum verified in UC course bulletins • Taught at UC, verified in UC Board minutes • Was active during time he was reported “missing” from the GGB site
What next? • Institutional repository • Build engineering repository at OhioLINK’s DRC • Encourage engineering colleagues state-wide to participate • Strauss research • Expand web site • DREAM: get grant to create digital archive of primary materials relating to Strauss, requiring collaboration among many institutions
Sites to view • USC Digital Archive • http://digarc.usc.edu:8089/ • Institutional repositories • MIT’s Dspace • http://libraries.mit.edu/dspace-mit/index.html • CalTech’s CODA • http://library.caltech.edu/digital/ • OhioLINK’s DMC (existing Digital Media Center) • http://dmc.ohiolink.edu/ • OhioLINK’s DRC development pages (expansion of the DMC) • http://drc-dev.ohiolink.edu/wiki
Sites to view cont • Fedora, IR open access software • http://www.fedora.info/ • Strauss web site (under construction) • http://www.engrlib.uc.edu/strauss/ • My sabbatical blog • http://dfbdas.blogspot.com/