AU Case Studies - Welsh Repository Network

a collaborative venture between Welsh Higher Education Institutions funded by JISC

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The Welsh Repository Network (WRN) is a collaborative venture between the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Wales to establish, develop and populate a network of interoperable institutional repositories. The vision that underpins the network is to facilitate and encourage the sharing of resources across the principality and to maximise the impact of Welsh research across the globe. The establishment of the network was underpinned by the JISC-funded WRN Start-Up Project which provided both fiscal and practical support to each WRN partner to aid in the implementation of an effective institutional repository in every Welsh HEI. The current JISC funded WRN Enhancement Project seeks to build on the previous project's work and is investigating the potential of a collaborative, centrally managed model for accelerating the development and uptake of repository services in Welsh HEIs.

To enable WRN partners and the wider repository community to continue their engagement with the repository agenda, the WRN are looking to create a series of learning objects relating to a range of repository management topics. It is understood that not everyone involved with repositories can dedicate the time and resources necessary to attend all of the current training opportunities available to them. It is hoped that these learning objects will go some way to filling in the gaps, offering training that can be delivered remotely, at a time convenient to an individual. 

We currently have three learning objects available under a Creative Commons License:

• Multimedia Deposits: Complications and considerations with Intellectual Property Rights 
  
• Metadata in repositories: An overview 
  
• Giving a clear picture: Metadata use in repositories to represent still images 

These objects were developed using Wimba Create. The software was easy to use as it utilises Microsoft Word for its design basis and produces attractive web pages even through its basic design template. In terms of course design, it also allows previously created interactive sessions such as those using Quizdom to be translated easily to an interactive learning object form. A small amount of HTML editing may be necessary however, to customise the final product with logos etc. if needed.