Open Repository recently sponsored the biennial SPARC Digital Repositories Meeting 2010 in Baltimore. A scenic harbor side location provided a pleasant backdrop for an interesting international gathering of repository professionals.
In addition to an interesting keynote by Michael Nielsen, quantum computation pioneer, there were sessions on open data, global repositories networks, the financial stability of archives and repository-based publishing services: strategies for success (or failure). The latter highlighted several initiatives of self-publishing, but might have been good to be balanced by a publisher’s point of view.
A very good summary of the event is available from David Rapp of LibraryJournal.com, in his article ‘Open Data, Open Minds Highlight SPARC Digital Repository Meeting’.
Innovation Fair
A highlight of the conference were the two-minute single slide presentations of the Innovation Fair. A less formal gathering of colleagues, with the rows of chairs taken away and replaced by buffets and drinks. The slides were also distributed around the room as posters for discussion.
On behalf of Open Repository, I gave a presentation entitled ‘Managing Language Versions in DSpace’. It highlighted the methodology we used to manage the six language version of the World Health Organization’s repository. This poster is now available to view online.
All in all, an interesting and lively conference and well worth attending again in future. Many thanks to the organizers and I look forward to SPARC 2012!
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