Maximizing the impact of institutional knowledge using DSpace
DSpace is a free, open-source software application for creating institutional repositories. Out of the box DSpace is a rather simple, uninspired repository, but with a bit of work it can be turned into a workhorse for disseminating institutional knowledge. By committing to using DSpace as the canonical location for institutional outputs, you can focus on standardizing metadata taxonomies and carefully curating content, then leverage application program interfaces (APIs) to integrate it with other services. This strategy is more efficient, reduces duplication of outputs, and increases the potential impact of institutional knowledge through syndication, harvesting, etc.
Authors:
Alan Orth
Alan Orth is a Linux systems administrator at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to supporting the research computing platform for scientific computing, he manages CGSpace, an institutional repository that captures the outputs of ILRI and many other CGIAR research institutions and their partners. Before working at ILRI, he worked as a volunteer teacher in Kenya where he taught computer science courses at the diploma level. He is passionate about free, libre, open-source software, and is involved with several Nairobi-based user groups such as the Nairobi GNU/Linux Users Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of California, Chico.
