Institutional Repository - Features and Benefits

Features and Benefits

According to the Directory of Open Access Repositories (DOAR) data and the Repository 66 map at December 2010, the majority of institutional repositories are built using open-source software.

While the most popular open source and hosted applications share the advantages that institutional repositories bring to institutions, such as increased visibility and impact of research output, interoperability and availability of technical support, institutional repository advocates tend to favour open source solutions for the reason that they are by their nature more compatible with the ideology of the freedom and independence of the internet from commercial interests. On the other hand, some institutions opt for outsourced commercial solutions.

In her briefing paper on open access repositories, advocate Alma Swan lists the following as the benefits that repositories bring to institutions:

• Opening up outputs of the institution to a worldwide audience;
• Maximizing the visibility and impact of these outputs as a result;
• Showcasing the institution to interested constituencies – prospective staff, prospective students and other stakeholders;
• Collecting and curating digital output;
• Managing and measuring research and teaching activities;
• Providing a workspace for work-in-progress, and for collaborative or large-scale projects;
• Enabling and encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to research;
• Facilitating the development and sharing of digital teaching materials and aids, and
• Supporting student endeavours, providing access to theses and dissertations and a location for the development of e-portfolios.