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Fedora

Lyrasis
United States of America
Website (Opens in new window) Membership Details (Opens in new window) Get in Touch (Opens in new window)

About

Launched: 2001
Record Updated: Nov 26, 2025
Repository software
Fedora is an open source repository system used for the management and dissemination of digital content. It is especially suited for digital libraries and archives and can be used for both access and preservation. Offering flexibility and extensibility for digital preservation needs, Fedora repositories can be used to provide access to a wide range of digital collections with varying sizes and complexities.

Mission

Lyrasis is the Fedora program's organization home, and as such the mission of the program aligns with that of Lyrasis, which is "Lyrasis empowers libraries, archives and museums through content services, open technologies and community-based solutions that expand access to information, preserve cultural heritage, and advance the shared goals of our members and the communities we serve. Collaboratively, we build a future that is inclusive, equitable, accessible and sustainable."
https://www.lyrasis.org/about/Pages/Strategic-Plan.aspx

Key Achievements

Fedora started a new virtual workshop series in 2024-2025, launched with 2 separate sold-out offerings, and the 2nd annual Virtual Fedora Showcase had over 200 registered attendees from around the world.
Fedora added 2 new members in 2024-2025.
Fedora Version 6.5.1 was released in January 2025 and the community documentation review project was a successful collaborative effort to review and update all of the Fedora 6.x documentation.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
Core Repository (Opens in new window)

Technical Documentation

Implemented
Documentation (Opens in new window)

Code License

Implemented
License (Opens in new window)

Open API

Implemented
REST API Specification (Opens in new window)

Open Product Roadmap

In Progress
Roadmap (Opens in new window)

Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • java

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

  • Apache License, Version 2.0

Content Licensing

Documentation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Standards

Metadata

  • Activity Streams 2.0
  • JSON-LD
  • Linked Data Design Principles
  • Memento framework
  • RDF
  • REST

Preservation

  • OCFL

Hosting Options

  • Through third party vendor only

Integrations

With a community published REST API, Fedora is able to integrate with many other technologies. Most common are the integrations between the Samvera Repository Infrastructures and Islandora front-end systems. Fedora also offers integration with Apache Camel to offer the Camel Toolbox.

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

Implemented
Code of Conduct (Opens in new window)

Community Engagement

Implemented
Community Engagement Options (Opens in new window)

Contribution Guidelines or Fora

Implemented
Developer Resources (Opens in new window)

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute funds
  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to governance
  • Contribute to peer reviews
  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Community Engagement Activities

  • Annual meetings
  • Blogs
  • Community calls
  • Conference participation
  • Development sprints
  • Interest, working, user, or advisory groups
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Social media
  • Staff roles with responsibility for community engagement
  • Webinars and training

Engagement with Values Frameworks

  • It Takes a Village Open Source Software Sustainability toolkit

More About Community Engagement

Community Engagement Activities:

Fedora maintains active engagement of its community members through the following activities:

  • Weekly open tech meetings to foster technical conversations, provide support and discuss development objectives
  • Maintenance of a community Slack with designated channels for targeted discussion
  • Monthly newsletter to keep the community informed on current initiatives, priorities and opportunities to engage
  • Annual virtual conference-style event to bring users together to showcase and discuss current work

https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/FF/Fedora+Repository+Home
Currently investigating POSI (Principles for Open Scholarly Infrastructure).

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

Fedora is community-owned, community-supported and community-governed. The Fedora Governance Group is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Fedora Program, its community, and associated technology. This group is responsible for leading the overall Vision & Strategy. Governance details can be found here: https://fedorarepository.org/governance/

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
Governance (Opens in new window)

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Implemented
Lyrasis DEIA Committment (Opens in new window)

Privacy Policy

Implemented
Privacy policy (Opens in new window)

Governance Records

Implemented
Governance meetings (Opens in new window)

Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
Governance (Opens in new window)

Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented
Membership Details (Opens in new window)

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Board Level

Board is that of the Fedora Community

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

Originally conceptualized in 1997 as a repository architecture at Cornell University, FEDORA (Flexible, Extensive, Digital Object Repository Architecture) was first implemented at the University of Virginia as a prototype digital library system. From there, interest in the architecture’s application grew and in 2007 the non-profit organization Fedora Commons was established with funds received from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. In 2009, DSpace Foundation and Fedora Commons joined together in a merger under the organizational name DuraSpace. And in 2019, Lyrasis and DuraSpace merged organizations and Fedora was added to an expanded portfolio of programs under the DuraSpace Community Supported Programs Division.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Other

Full-time Staff

1-5

Volunteers

Unknown

Non-profit Status

501(c)3

Current Affiliations

  • Lyrasis, Samvera, Islandora, Oxford Common File Layout Community
  • As well as these partner communities, Fedora operates under the direction of a Governance group, who's roles and responsibilities can be found here: https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/FF/Project+Governance
  • Institutions who support Fedora through Membership funding have the opportunity to participate in Governance depending on their level of commitment. These details can be found here: https://fedora.lyrasis.org/membership/

Funding

Primary Funding Source

Member-supported

Financial Reporting Level

  • Provider

Funding Needs

Fedora is funded entirely by membership contributions from institutions. This funding supports program staff who work to develop, teach, engage and support all active Fedora users. Membership represents the only source of unrestricted income for program initiatives and is the only method for which the program can continue to provide essential support for staff and operations. Without membership income, the program’s sustainability would be at risk, along with the preservation of the vital content contained within the repositories of our users.
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