About the software

Web site

http://www.dspace.org/

Licensing

DSpace is free, available under the BSD license: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php

Date of this document

February 2007

Versions tested

1.4

RUBRIC project recommendation

RUBRIC-central recommended DSpace 1.4  as a repository solution for RUBRIC partners. One partner, Massey University chose to go this route, while Flinders University already had a DSpace repository and will be staying with the software.

DSpace is built around hierarchical constructs known as “Communities” and “Collections”, objects must be placed in at least one community and collection. Collections are essential in DSpace because this is the only way to create different metadata input forms for different kinds objects.

DSpace is a mature software package and has a broad Open Source community supporting it.

RUBRIC-central does not recommend collections where there is a choice.

Support & Hosting options

Hosting is offered at this site: http://www.openrepository.com/

Issues

At this stage, export of data from Dspace is only by Collection or Item.

System configuration could be placed under version control. This is not done via the web interface, so would require server console access.

Along with Eprints, DSpace uses a flat metadata schema with simple name, value pairs of metadata. Read an opinion piece on this from the RUBRIC technical manager Peter Sefton.

RQF support

APSR will be providing a version of, or add-ons to DSpace that will provide RQF support.

Who should consider this software?

For institutions wanting to run an open access research repository and willing to accept the limitations imposed by collections, DSpace is a good choice. It requires very little maintenance and hosting options are available.