Enhancing the interface of the research repository at The Glasgow School of Art, through the development of RADAR (Research art design architecture Repository) Dr Robin Burgess 10 th February 2012

Objective Illustrate the work undertaken at the Glasgow School of Art - achievements The development of RADAR Comment on the impact that being part of the JISC funded embedding research repositories project has had on GSA - recommendations Detail future aspirations in the field

Firstly... Something Old Previous system set up for RAE 2007 Developed in Filemaker Poor interface Difficult for researchers to use Little interoperability Fig 1: Filemaker Interface

...Old (continued) Figs 2 and 3: Additional screenshots of filemaker system Illustrating quite a complex looking database system

Secondly... Something New Through funding from JISC, RADAR has been developed Improved system Integrated with the new GSA website Utilising Eprints technology Fig 4: The improved repository interface

...New (continued) Taking sketches and working with Eprints to develop the working system Figs 5 and 6: Transition from idea to reality

Thirdly... Something Borrowed GSA has received invaluable support during this project from the Kultivate team To aid with the design and layout of the repository ideas from Enlighten were looked at as well as the University of the Creative Arts repository The design and development of the repository was significantly enhanced due to the contributions from Eprints and ScreenMedia, the web development team

Finally... Something ‘Blue’ ‘Blue’ in the sense that we have not completed development Encountered some initial conflict with the system Testing and refinement Performing a mock REF exercise Fig 7: The current look

However... We do have a new functioning repository Staff are engaged in using the system Over 300 deposits in the space of 2 weeks Increased understanding of depositing Staff appear to be enjoying using the system The system will continue to be developed

Achievements An improved front and back end interface Improved support for non-text deposits Connection and buy-in from users An enhanced system based on usability, design, aesthetics and user needs Greater interoperability with other research repositories across the UK Involvement in repository related events such as the DCC Roadshow and Repository Fringe The actual production of RADAR, our improved repository (a great achievement for GSA)

Beneficiaries Internal Students Academic Staff Support Staff Repository Managerial Staff External Academics, students, researchers and practitioners Research assessors Repository community

Immediate Impact Improved depositing of research outputs by academic staff Greater sharing of information between schools present at GSA Improved collaborative research and knowledge exchange Enhanced presence on the web for research outputs Easy and more accessible system for research staff Impact on the approach to REF Record keeping of research outputs Alignment of GSA with other institutes with regard to research repositories Enhanced knowledge of digital data management

Future Impact The impact brought about by the integration of RADAR within the ethos of research at GSA will continue as the system develops further. The current impact has been positive and this will be enhanced. This enhanced impact will come about following the application of advocacy methodologies for helping researchers to understand and use the system to greater extent. The repository is likely to impact on other data management systems in the future, as additional modules and capabilities are looked into for the system. In addition to the impact that the repository will have on GSA, our involvement in this project has brought about our involvement in the Kaptur project being managed by VADS. The development of RADAR will influence the policies that we devise through involvement in this project. Therefore it can be stated that over the coming years GSA will be heavily involved in aspects related to data management and methods for doing this. This has resulted in the development of a working group to tackle aspects of data management within the school, not just research related data, but data and resources throughout the school.

Recommendations Engaging with Eprints (Why?) Eprints is emerging as the most widely used repository system in higher education with 101 institutes in the UK using it – including many arts institutes It allows interoperability between institutes – making us inline with other institutes and more visible EPrints will be optimised for the REF, which will lead to significant efficiency savings – reducing staff time in REF preparation. EPrints are working with HEFCE to develop a REF module for all EPrints repositories EPrints have the capacity to host and help maintain the repository and have all the standards and facilities in place to do this The EPrints repository can be designed and tailored to user needs and will be much more user-friendly and accessible for staff – academics and support staff Sound communication strategies Clear project management

The Future of RADAR... Heavily centred around its use for REF 2014 Reducing administrative burdens New developments and enhanced integration within GSA, particularly within Information Services and the Library Continued collaboration with JISC, DCC and Kultivate/Kaptur and internationally Improved advocacy within GSA

Concluding Comments This project has proved very beneficial to GSA in enabling us to enhance our research repository with regard to embedding it within the institute through integration with the new GSA website, and improving the take-up of the repository through the improved user-interface developed with the aid of EPrints software and design capabilities shared by ScreenMedia. This project has also increased GSAs knowledge of research repositories. Many lessons have been learnt in relation to the management of research outputs and the development of data management systems. This knowledge has been aided by help from EPrints and from the wider community, particularly those institutes who are part of the Kultivate project. It is hoped that the lessons GSA have learnt can be shared with other institutes who may be embarking on a project to enhance their research repositories, with particular focus on extrapolating from a simple database tool to an institutional repository that has increased capabilities. Finally, at GSA it will be the role of the research information manager to maintain and manage the repository. This will be in relation to future developments and utilisation of the tool. GSA are pleased to now be part of the repository community/network thanks to our involvement in this JISC funded project

A little lesson learnt... “Databases are simple and have well- defined query semantics. Repositories are complex socio-technical phenomena which embody the values and policies of multiple, conflicting scholarly communities” (Eprints).

Acknowledgements JISC for providing the funding for us to be able to develop RADAR The contribution and support from Balviar Notay and Laurian Williamson The Eprints team, particularly Tim Miles-Board and Justin Bradley The team from ScreenMedia, particularly Jon Carlos The researchers at GSA who have been patient while the new system has been developed and have provided feedback when required – particular thanks goes to Daisy Abbott from the Digital Design Studio The support I have received from the Information Services Team at GSA The external support recevied from other institutes and the Kultivate Group, particularly Marie-Therese Gramstadt.

THANKYOU! (Coming Soon!) And look out for the follow up to ‘The Repository Song’ as performed at the Repository Fringe (