About RSP
Mission
The Repositories Support Project (RSP) is a 5.5 year JISC-funded initiative contributing to building repository capacity, knowledge and skills within UK higher education institutions. Through providing guidance and advice it benefits the whole of the UK sector resulting in the wider take-up and development of institutional repositories in HEIs.
The aim of the project is to progress the vision of a deployed network of interoperable repositories for academic papers, learning materials and research data across the UK. Whilst fulfilling the business requirements of HEIs to manage their assets, showcase research outputs, and share learning materials, such a network of populated repositories is a major step forward in the provision of open access materials.
Although some institutions are in the advanced stages of establishing well managed repositories the deployment of repositories is still patchy and many institutions do not have the expertise, resources or confidence to address the repository agenda without external encouragement and support. Consequently, whilst there are still many interesting areas for theoretical research, the principal aim of the RSP is to increase the pace of institutional adoption by providing practical assistance and advice based on available solutions, with an emphasis on operational issues to do with the installation, implementation and deployment of institutional repositories.
The RSP has an active outreach programme of advice and information. This targets institutions that are yet to take the first step, as well as giving more advanced institutions guidance on embedding existing repositories within institutional strategies. In both instances the intention is to provide clear decision paths, succinct guidance notes and hands-on support. In developing its services and support the project draws not only on the wide-ranging expertise resident in its carefully selected combination of consortium partners but also upon the substantial amount of additional expertise, research and infrastructure already available within the sector.
Activities
The RSP consults with the community at large and with JISC programme managers in order to ensure institutions can be effectively supported whatever their repository type or stage of maturity. A databank of expertise, know-how and best practice will be built up. It is delivered with different views for target audiences and repository types, tailored to specific needs and available in multiple formats. Support materials concentrate on four broad themes:
- Technical: software selection and installation, technologies, metadata, interoperability
- Organisational: staffing, business requirements and incentives, copyright clearance and digital rights management
- Repository management: policies, workflows, archiving and preservation
- Advocacy: advocating to different stakeholders and advising on advocacy within institutions
Services and support from the RSP [PDF, 144KB]
Funding
The RSP is funded by 
