About

Launched: 2002
Record Updated: Oct 04, 2024
Repository software
DSpace is a web application, allowing researchers and scholars to publish documents and data. While DSpace shares some feature overlap with content management systems and document management systems, the DSpace repository software serves a specific need as a digital archives system, focused on the long-term storage, access and preservation of digital content thus making DSpace the software of choice for academic, non-profit, and commercial organizations building open digital repositories. It is free and easy to install “out of the box” and completely customizable to fit the needs of any organization.

Mission

We will create superior open source software by harnessing the skills of an active developer community, the energy and insights of engaged and active users, and the financial support of project members and registered service providers.

Key Achievements

The major goal achieved in 2023 was the release of DSpace 7.6 release, the final 7.x release to include new features. The 7.x platform will now move into maintenance mode as we focus on 8.0.

The release was made possible by generous financial contributions and nearly 2000 hours of development.

In 2023, DSpace also organised 3 different Q&A online meetings, attended by hundreds of global users who were able to find the answers they were looking for about the latest releases. In addition to that, DSpace organised a hybrid in-person/online workshop for the Spanish-speaking community, which has already been viewed by over 2000 people.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented

Technical Documentation

Implemented

Code License

Implemented

Open API

Implemented

Open Data Statement

Implemented

Open Product Roadmap

Implemented

Technical Attribute Statements

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

  • BSD licenses

Content Licensing

Not applicable. Optionally, institutions may configure their local DSpace installation to apply a local and/or Creative Commons licensing to their content.

Standards

Hosting Options

  • Through solution or third party vendor

Integrations

DOI (DataCite or EZID), Handle Systems, SWORD, OAI-PMH, IIIF, ORCID, OpenAIRE, Astrophyics Data System (ADS), arXiv, CiNii, Crossref, European Patent Office (EPO), PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, Sherpa Romeo, VuFind, Web of Science, Google Analytics, Google reCAPTCHA, Creative Commons, IRUS (Institutional Repository Usage Statistics)

Community Engagement

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute funds
  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to governance
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

More About Community Engagement

Community Engagement Activities:

COAR Next Generation Repositories Principles https://ngr.coar-repositories.org/principles/

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

DSpace governance is based on a representative, community-based membership model incrementally rewarding members who have made the greatest commitments to the project. It consists of a Leadership Group, Steering Group, and Working Groups.

Policies

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Implemented

Privacy Policy

Implemented

Web Accessibility Statement

Implemented
Applies to Solution

Governance Records

Implemented

Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented

Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

The first public version of DSpace was released in November 2002, as a joint effort between developers from MIT and HP Labs. Following the first user group meeting in March 2004, a group of interested institutions formed the DSpace Federation which determined the governance of future software development by adopting the Apache Foundation's community development model as well as establishing the DSpace Committer Group. In July 2007 as the DSpace user community grew larger, HP and MIT jointly formed the DSpace Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provided leadership and support. In May 2009 collaboration on related projects and growing synergies between the DSpace Foundation and the Fedora Commons organization led to the joining of the two organizations to pursue their common mission in a not-for-profit called DuraSpace. DuraSpace and Lyrasis merged in July 2019. Currently, the DSpace software and user community receives leadership and guidance from Lyrasis as the Organizational Home. The community work and maintenance of the software is lead by Governance and the DSpace working groups.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Non-profit organization

Current Affiliations

  • DSpace has a range of organizations involved including governance, members, and registered service providers. You can see the current lists at the following links: https://dspace.lyrasis.org/governance

Funding

Funding Needs

DSpace software is financially supported by the community: membership dues, certified partners and service providers, and various fundraising efforts. Current fundraising campaigns are the DSpace Development Fund (DDF) and the Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services (SCOSS). More on each of these including goals and how to participate is available at
https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/DSPACE/Announcement%3A+DSpace+Development+Fund and https://dspace.lyrasis.org/fundraising/
Membership dollars and representation are critical to DSpace. More info on benefits and impact of membership is available at:
https://dspace.lyrasis.org/membership/.