Outsourcing open access: Digital Commons at the University of Wollongong, Australia

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to outline the experiences of an Australian university inrnselecting a proprietary solution for its open access digital repository requirements.rnDesign/methodology/approach - An overview is presented of the environment leading up to therndecision to select Digital Commons over an open source software solution. The paper also outlinesrnsubsequent experiences during a one-year period in operating the outsourced solution.rnFindings - Outsourcing is an appropriate digital repository option for higher education institutionsrnwhen costs are considered and compared with open source solutions, and especially when on-site ITrnsupport is limited. Outsourcing allows local staff to concentrate on liaison with faculty in promotingrnand populating the repository.rnPractical implications - A useful resource for those considering the use of proprietary or openrnsource software for their institutional repository.rnOriginality/value - This papers deals with a little discussed area of the relatively new subject ofrnopen access institutional repositories.