DSpace for Art/Design Institutions

Dear all,

I recently attended a presentation on MIT's new DSpace software and was immensely excited by this new resource. For those who aren't familiar with this, it is an open source platform designed to manage electronic resources produced within an institution. Its primary goals are to capture and describe digital works regardless of format, make them accessible via the Internet and preserve these items using a system not dependent on proprietary software programs. Although DSpace was created specifically for MIT, they are actively encouraging others to download it (for free) and use the flexible structure to tweak the software for use in any given information environment. It seems a long term goal will be to create a network of individual or institutional DSpace "electronic depositories" that can easily share resources in a collegial manner. For more information on copyright, access, and much more visit http://www.dspace.org/

I realize that this is a new product and only four institutions have fully implemented it, but I wonder whether any art/design colleges have looked at using it for personal or institutional use. Any comments would be appreciated, including:

how the implementation process was managed (downloading, IT support, server requirements, etc.)
how the system works for electronic art resources (images, videos, audio, etc.)
how faculty members have evaluated it, especially in regards to access rights/copyright
whether institutions have assumed responsibility for creating meta-data, or whether faculty contributors have.
whether it has been used for or considered for use in e-journal publication/creation

Please respond to me personally and I'll compile any commentaries that I receive.
Thanks in advance,
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Daniel Payne MLIS, MA (Musicology), BEd
Reference Librarian
OCAD Library
113 McCaul St., Toronto ON, M5T 1W1
tel: (416) 977-6000 x. 217 fax: (416) 593-1429
[log in to unmask]

__________________________________________________________________ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org//membership.html Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.uky.edu/archives/arlis-l.html Questions may be addressed to list owner (Kerri Scannell) at: [log in to unmask]