Taking it to the Next Level: The Evolution of a Repository

Cook Library 206Z & Room A

There have been so many changes with institutional repositories over the years that we sometimes forget how far we have come. The University of Memphis Libraries have a history of digital and institutional repositories that goes back over fourteen years. The history of this program began with a donation, and a well-intended vision, from a local community member. This very modest digital repository has seen dramatic changes in how we approach digital content as well as developments to the platforms and capabilities of the content management systems that we have employed. We call this an evolution because with each change, we have seen more capabilities, growth, and improvements to our policies and procedures that drive the work that make up our institutional repository today. We view digital assets, our digitization program, and folding in other internal stakeholders to help grow the digital footprint of the University Libraries very differently from those first tentative steps over a decade ago. In this session, we will provide an overview of the history of the digital program of a mid-sized urban university and outline our vision for future growth and development of the institutional repository that has grown out of the original digital repository.