Key
issues to be taken into consideration when selecting a software
system include the following:
::
Availability
A range of potentially suitable
systems are available and there is evidence that developmental
work is still ongoing. The 'Electronic Theses' project has given
consideration to systems that have been tested and adopted by
a number of respected institutions: DSpace, EPrints, Virginia
Tech ETD-DB, Greenstone and several other software packages identified
from the Open Society Institute 'Guide
to Institutional Repostitories'.
::
Open Source
- The software should be available at no cost.
- The software should be customisable.
- The software should able to be revised and
upgraded.
::
Interoperability
To ensure cross institutional
access, the software system selected should comply with the most
up to date version of the 'Open
Archives Protocol for Metadata Harvesting' (OAI-PMH)
::
Suitability
- The software selected should be relatively
simple to install across a range of hardware types and operating
systems
- The software should meet the needs of individual
institutional policies with regard to the integration of ETDs
with other material in electronic repositories.
- The software should offer an intuitive and
appealing user interface.
::
Sustainability
The creators or existing users
of the software should demonstrate a commitment to the future
support and development of the product.
::
Project Preferences
Given the above criteria, the
'Electronic Theses' project has chosen to recommend 'DSpace' oe
'EPrints' software for use by institutions that are planning to
provide an ETD repository service.. |
