10 April 2023

OPEN ACCESS WEEK

Sussex Research Online: An update

Kitty Inglis

Librarian

10 April 2023

Sussex Research Online: Background

• Started as a specially funded 1 year project in 2005, led by Chris

Keene in the Library

• Built using e-Prints software (remains a “market leader” in the IR

field)

• Beta version launched in August 2006

10 April 2023

Sussex Research Online: Background

• Research-based in terms of content focus- Journal articles

- Book chapters

- Conference papers

- Technical reports

- Working papers

- Theses (From 2009/10 onwards)

• SRO currently holds around 1600 items, including over 80

doctoral theses

10 April 2023

Sussex Research Online: Future Plans

• We were relatively early adopters and got off to a good start

• Resourcing issues and lack of a “champion” at senior level have

resulted in limited development since the initial implementation of SRO

• Following recent renewed interest in the strategic management of

research outputs, approval was given in February 2010 to carry out a

project to integrate data held in SRO with research data held in other

corporate systems, thereby improving the functionality of data systems

for research management

10 April 2023

Institutional Repository Project: Goals

• The goals of the Project are:- To develop and expand the use of SRO as the single repository to house UoS

research outputs and associated bibliographic data, interfacing with other appropriate

corporate systems

- To ensure accurate and timely collection and management of data required for the

RCUK research outcomes reporting, to be introduced in 2011 and the REF in 2014

- To enhance the online presentation of the University’s research at the level of both

individual faculty and academic unit

10 April 2023

Institutional Repository Project: Deliverables

• Project deliverables include:- A user interface to allow faculty to input publication and other output and outcome

information and upload full text version of publications (where permitted) with

validation from the Library

- A systems interface between the IR and other corporate systems

- Functionality to populate relevant REF and RCUK research outcomes returns

- Functionality to generate relevant profiles for use on UoS websites

- Functionality to generate reports on additions to, contents and usage of SRO - Defined processes for adding information and content

- Supporting policy statements

10 April 2023

Institutional Repository Project: Approach

• A Project Board, chaired by PVC Research, Bob Allison, is overseeing the project

• The Project is being managed by an implementation team comprising representatives from:

- Research and Enterprise

- Library

- ITS

- Planning Office

- Web Team

- School Administrative Support

10 April 2023

Institutional Repository Project: Timeframe

• The substantive timescale driver for the delivery of this project is

support for REF and RCUK research outcomes reporting

• SRO in its revised and updated format therefore needs to be available

by the beginning of 2011

Institutional Repository Project: Timetable

• March 2010 - Confirmation of IR software

• April 2010 - Project Specification

• May 2010 - Financial approval and confirmation of software

• June 2010 - Launch IR website (www.sussex.ac.uk/res/1-8.html)

• July 2010 - Start of data gathering and cleansing

• July 2010 - Start of policy development and approval

• September 2010 - Completion of IR specification

• September 2010 - Start of policy development and approval

• October 2010 - New e-Prints implementation

• October 2010 - Confirmation of REF specification

• December 2010 - Completion of data gathering and cleansing

• December 2010 - Completion of software integration

• December 2010 - Data migration

• January 2011 - Launch of new system and training

10 April 2023

10 April 2023

Sussex Research Online: The Finished Product

• By the end of the project, SRO will:- Act as an outward facing “shop window” for UoS research, raising the profile of our

output

- Facilitate the multiple use and sharing of data between systems

- Support REF, RCUK outcomes reporting and general research management

- Hold bibliographic data to internationally agreed standards

- Provide secure, scalable storage for academic staff for their research outputs

- Support the benefits of Open Access

- Ensure compliance with requirements of external funding bodies (e.g. research

councils, charitable bodies)

10 April 2023

Effective Researcher Seminar Series

• Questions…..