CONUL 2024: Building Community to Coordinate Ireland's Fragmented Open Repository Network

This talk details a transformative two-year initiative led by the University of Galway, a key player of the National Open Research Forum (NORF) National Open Research Action Plan. Focused on aligning Ireland's open repositories with international best practices, the project adopts a sustainable, community-centric approach. With the aim of transitioning from a fragmented to a cohesive repository approach, the project emphasises collaboration and integration, both nationally and internationally. Findings underscore the critical need for metadata alignment to support ambitious open research goals. The survey reveals a fragmented landscape, necessitating comprehensive national cooperation and coordination. Challenges include disparities in staffing, resource allocation, and reliance on external hosting providers, highlighting the urgent need for dedicated personnel and robust resource management.

The talk outlines recommendations, advocating for collaborative initiatives, training, metadata standardisation, and national alignment. It highlights the importance of shared infrastructure, technical support, and advocacy to address challenges and enhance open repository networks in Ireland. As the project progresses into its next phase, it stands as a compelling case study for networks aspiring to strengthen their open repository landscape guided by international best practices. We show a data-driven exploration of Ireland's journey, contributing significantly to the global advancement of open repositories.