[NWDigitalProjects] FW: [Icolc] USMAI Library Consortium and Partners Launch Maryland Shared Open Access Repository

[Robb, Evan]

FYI, MD-SOAR looks to be a promising project. Browse by subject to get a feel for the repository built on DSpace: https://mdsoar.org/browse?type=subject 



-----Original Message-----
From: icolc-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org [mailto:icolc-bounces at lyralists.lyrasis.org] On Behalf Of Charles Thomas
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 5:26 PM
To: icolc at lyralists.lyrasis.org
Subject: [Icolc] USMAI Library Consortium and Partners Launch Maryland Shared Open Access Repository

The Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (MD-SOAR) was launched recently as a two-year pilot project supported by eleven public and private colleges and universities in the state. MD-SOAR provides a single, centrally administered platform upon which all partners can build library-based digital repository collections and services. Library-based digital repositories often contain a wide variety of content such as faculty and student works, instructional content and presentations, digitized institutional heritage collections, and other digital assets. The MD-SOAR initiative involves both public and private educational institutions and will avoid more than $100,000 in startup costs that otherwise would have to be spent to provide the same capabilities for each participating institution.

MD-SOAR is hosted through an arrangement with the USMAI Library Consortium, but is jointly governed by all participating partners. During the two-year pilot project, these college and university libraries will build digital repository collections and services suited to each institution's needs, but will also develop shared policies, workflows, and other agreements that are necessary in a shared platform environment. The joint governance group also will develop an effective evaluation strategy for the collaboration, a long-term sustainability plan to continue beyond the initial two-year period, and an ongoing statement of lessons learned during the pilot. All of these materials will be made freely available as a planning toolkit for other libraries that may wish to consider similar collaborative approaches.

MD-SOAR (mdsoar.org<http://mdsoar.org>) was built using the open-source DSpace institutional repository software (www.dspace.org<http://www.dspace.org>) and contains links to each partner institution's site. In the coming months, these partner sites will grow as each library adds new collections, services, and guidance to best serve their local campus communities.

Pilot project partners include the libraries of:

Frostburg State University
Goucher College
Loyola / Notre Dame Library
Maryland Institute College of Art
Morgan State University
Salisbury University
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Towson University
University of Baltimore
University of Maryland Baltimore
University of Maryland - Baltimore County University of Maryland College Park (hosting MD-SOAR)

The USMAI Library Consortium includes sixteen member libraries at the public universities and colleges in the State of Maryland. We provide unified, cost effective and creative approaches to acquiring, managing, and sharing information and knowledge resources. We support the shared mission of our member campuses to contribute to the intellectual and cultural growth of our students, faculty and staff. For more information see http://usmai.org.





*** *** *** ***
Chuck Thomas
Executive Director, USMAI Library Consortium
Tel: 202-651-1921
Email: cthomas at usmd.edu
usmai.org





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