Regional Research E-Prints Archive Project

Abstract

The Bernard Becker Medical Library investigated the viability of an institutional repository to store post publications of School of Medicine faculty to 1.Raise Washington University School of Medicine’s visibility, status, and public value as a research institution by promoting broader access to its research. 2.Create a mechanism by which authors at the school could publish supplemental material. 3.Establish a mechanism for open access to research outside of the traditional publishing community. The Library purchased a server and staff selected, installed, and worked with the DSpace software developed by MIT and Hewlett Packard. The need for developing policies and procedures and a management infrastructure were investigated and guidelines developed. Resource libraries in the MidContinental Region were invited to two teleconferences where the software was discussed and demonstrated. The libraries were invited to use the Washington University server as a testbed for their own exploration of institutional repositories. Faculty of the WU School of Medicine participated in focus groups aimed at eliciting their feedback about the library’s concept of an institutional repository.