...
The complete survey results are available here: INSERT LINK
Where do we go from here?
From the survey it is clear that improvements to metadata support in DSpace could help solve some common challenges for many organizations. Many will agree that there is no one size fits all repository software. DSpace is the most popular repository software, used by over 1,000 organizations for a reason – it is relatively easy to get a repository up and running. Because of this the DSpace developers have to be careful that adding functionality it is not at the cost of making it more difficult for the vast majority of DSpace use cases. With that in mind, DCAT has proposed exploring the following priorities with the DSpace Committers/Developers and the user community:
...
5) Explore the implications of offering hierarchal metadata in DSpace and whether it makes sense, given the DSpace/Fedora integration work. Hierarchal metadata would allow for relationships between community/collection/bitstream metadata. Because Fedora metadata is not stored in the database, as it is in DSpace, but in files, the relational aspect functionality in Fedora is more flexible. It is hoped that the DSpace/Fedora integration work would take advantage of Fedora's flexibility. DCAT proposes that the community explore the implications/reasonableness of a separate effort on hierarchal metadata in addition to the DSpace/Fedora integration.
How can you help?
If any of the above priorities are important to you or your organization, we need your help. In order to move forward we need to put together a project team for each priority. If there are no volunteers, there will likely be no meaningful movement forward. Please contact Valorie Hollister at vhollister@duraspace.org in you are interested in contributing your time and effort.