Developing the Digital Research Repository at the University of St Andrews

Abstract

The move to develop this new service was primarily driven by University Library planning and policy. This clearly identified the need for improved service provision to the local, national and international research community by providing digital delivery mechanisms. University strategic planning with regard to making research outputs available to a wider audience was also a major driver to the development. The deposit and delivery of theses in electronic format was identified as the primary service aim of the University of St Andrews Digital Research Repository development. Closely allied to this is the development of a pilot service to enable the deposit of full text published research outputs from University academics. The drivers here are to develop the Digital Research Repository in parallel with the University research publications database and information system. The aims are to establish good communication and practice in the centralised and coordinated development of both databases and to embed the deposit, storage and dissemination of research profile data and publications into centralised workflows.