EPrints as the Cardinal Scholar Institutional Repository at

Ball State UniversityBringing an Institutional Repository to the

Ball State University CommunityCardinal Scholar (CS)

Bradley Faust, Assistant Dean LITSUniversity Libraries

Cardinal ScholarVision: The Ball State University Cardinal

Scholar institutional repository (IR) system provides an online destination for archiving, preserving and storing intellectual property created by faculty and others at Ball State University. Cardinal Scholar promotes Ball State University's intellectual work to a worldwide audience and advances open scholarly communication.

Discussion Points/Talking PointsIR systems investigation and

determinationOur decision to use EPrints 3 - why?Implementation issues with EPrints

3Local customization of EPrints 3How is Cardinal Scholar doing

today?

IR system investigation/determinationComparison of IR systems availableConsideration of CONTENTdm as possible

solutionLack of open deposit processCollection based organization of assets

Why were other IR systems/solutions not selected?License feesTechnical issuesFunctionality

Decision to use EPrints – why?System Considerations

EPrints written in PerlApache web server, mySQL componentsAccessible codeActive development and user communities

Cost ConsiderationsOpen Source – no initial license fee

Functional Considerations

Implementation of EPrints as CSSuccessful operation of EPrints 3 on Fedora

Core platform for several monthsSuccessful user experiences testing EPrints 3Successful installation and operation of a

EPrints 3 beta version on a Windows based test server

Successful customization of EPrints 3 system on Windows

Successful installation and operation of a EPrints 3 development version on a Windows based production server

CS - Final Launch TimelineBuilt production Windows EPrints server - Nov

2007Testing

Windows test system – 1st week Dec 2007Windows production server – 2nd-3rd week Dec

2007Computer Center workSoft launch – no publicity (mid Dec 2007)Solicited user feedback and tweaked the system

(mid Dec - mid Jan)Began publicizing CS (Jan 2008)

Computer Center AssistanceAssign system a domain name

cardinalsholar.bsu.eduSystem security scan to evaluate server

configuration Provide internet access to the CS server

through the campus firewallAcquire SSL certificate for system ($100) – to

protect logon credentials and improve overall security

Review informational pages for consistency with university computing policy

Customization of EPrints, doneInformational pages – heavily modifiedDeposit process pages – heavily modifiedNew accounts default to ‘editor’ statusAdded left hand navigation columnAdded Depositor Status field to deposit processCombined ‘deposit now’ and ‘make live’

buttons into one single functionAdded Browse by Division and by Creator

featureModified taskbar format and content

Vanilla EPrints 3 Homepage

Cardinal Scholar Homepage

Customization of EPrints, to doReorder required fields to display together on

deposit pagesImplement LDAP support to tie CS user

accounts to campus domain accountsFurther develop strategy for supporting small

group access – plan to use shared user accounts initially

Further develop functionality around local depositor status field

Custom reports for OAI and other administrative work

How is CS doing today?Repository has been running for 10 monthsStarted with an empty repository/archiveManually moved selected digital assets from

the test repository environment to CSPopulated production CS with:

University Archives documentsother library and university documents

Vacant Archivist slot slowed progress this year.

Currently have over 150 digital assets in the CS system

Thank youConnect to Cardinal Scholar

cardinalscholar.bsu.eduContact Information

765 285-8032bfaust@bsu.eduBradley Faust

Assistant Dean for Library Information Technology Services

University Libraries Ball State University Muncie, IN 47306