Digital Archives and Institutional Repositories A Sabbatical Report Dorothy Byers Engineering Library June 13, 2005

Three purposes 1. Investigate USC Digital Archives and use of Documentum, contemplated for use at OhioLINK’s Digital Resource Commons (DRC) 2. Prepare a pilot engineering repository with state-wide potential on DRC 3. 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 colleages 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 – Institutional repositories – MIT’s Dspace – CalTech’s CODA – OhioLINK’s DMC (existing Digital Media Center) – OhioLINK’s DRC development pages (expansion of the DMC)

Sites to view cont Fedora, IR open access software – Strauss web site (under construction) – My sabbatical blog –

Sabbatical: Digital Archives and Institutional Repositories Dorothy F. Byers, Engineering Library My sabbatical blog: USC Digital Archive: Institutional repositories – MIT’s Dspace: – CalTech’s CODA: – OhioLINK’s DMC (existing Digital Media Center): – OhioLINK’s DRC development pages (expansion of the DMC): Fedora, IR open access software: Strauss web site (under construction): /2005