User:Repositoryhp/Welsh Repository Network



The Welsh Repository Network is a collaborative venture between the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Wales to establish, develop and populate a network of interoperable institutional repositories. The vision that underpins the network is to facilitate and encourage the sharing of resources across the principality and to maximise the impact of Welsh research across the globe.

Background
The establishment of the Welsh Repository Network (WRN) was underpinned by the JISC funded WRN Start-Up Project which provided both fiscal and practical support to each WRN partner to aid in the implementation of an effective institutional repository in every Welsh HEI. The success of this project was marked by the launch of the Welsh Repository Network at the National Library of Wales in February 2009.

The current JISC funded WRN Enhancement Project seeks to build on the previous project's work and is investigating the potential of a collaborative, centrally managed model for accelerating the development and uptake of repository services in Welsh HEIs.

Partners
The Welsh Repository Network (WRN) is a collaborative venture between the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Wales to establish, develop and populate a network of interoperable institutional repositories. The WRN project partners are:


 * Aberystwyth University
 * Bangor University
 * Cardiff University
 * Glyndŵr University
 * Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
 * Swansea Metropolitan University
 * Swansea University
 * Trinity University College
 * University of Glamorgan
 * University of Wales
 * University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
 * University of Wales, Lampeter
 * University of Wales, Newport

Support Delivery
The WRN-EP will offer continued and enhanced levels of support that will enable all 12 WRN Partners to have improved and better populated institutional repositories by the end of the project. Support will be delivered in the following ways:


 * Site visits

The WRN project team are specifically funded to provide a high level of support for the Welsh HEIs and regular site visits are a key way of keeping in touch with our local contacts and delivering repository support face to face.

The purpose and aim of a site visit is driven by the local needs of each institution meaning sessions are often varied and can include elements such as presentations and facilitated discussions through to more specific focussed meetings or technical hands on assistance with installing or configuring repository software.


 * Training

The WRN project team are able to offer group training on a range of repository topics including:
 * Metadata
 * Workflows
 * Multimedia Deposits
 * Copyright
 * DSpace customisation
 * The UK Repository Scene
 * Advocacy and Promotion
 * Keeping up to date repository current awareness strategies

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and we are happy to build training materials on any repository topic of interest.


 * Gregynog Colloquium Repository Stream

Within its support programme, the WRN hosts a two day repository training event for partners as part of the annual WHELF /HEWIT Gregynog Colloquium. This dedicated repository stream includes practical workshops, presentations and a face- to- face WRN business meeting.

WRN Activities
The WRN will be working on a number of activities and themes during the project lifetime. Current activities include:


 * e-theses Harvesting

In liaison with the National Library of Wales and the EThOS project the WRN is aiming to establish a full service electronic thesis harvesting system taking theses from the university repositories and ingesting them into both the National Library of Wales archival system and a central, public facing open access repository.


 * Mediated Deposit Bureau

The WRN project team is investigating the creation of a national mediated repository deposit service utilising central metadata and copyright expertise. The aim is to explore whether outsourcing repository record creation enhances the rate of material being deposited and whether the concept of remote mediation results in a successful workflow and embeds into the culture and policy framework of the individual institutions involved. In addition this activity will offer information about the sustainability of the model and provide information on per unit costs of such a service.


 * Learning Objects

In order to maintain momentum for the repository agenda within Wales the WRN will be creating and distributing a number of learning objects on a variety of repository issues. These learning objects will be available via the WRN website for WRN Partners and the wider repository community to utilise remotely, in their own time.