Shared repositories: building (multi-tenancy) repository services at the British Library

In 2018, a report by the Universities UK Open Access Repositories Working Group raised concerns about repository sustainability and proposed a range actions that could support open repositories. It also posed the question of whether the integration of separate institutional repositories and increased use of shared services might help to pool resources, reduce costs and increase visibility, citation and impact.

While shared repositories are still unusual, in November 2019, the British Library launched its shared open access repository. It brings together the research outputs of six cultural heritage organisations – available as separate repositories as well as a shared search interface at https://iro.bl.uk. To our knowledge, it is the first example of a shared repository that takes advantage of the multi-tenancy features of the open source Samvera Hyku repository system. This paper discusses both the nature, challenge and benefits of developing a multi-tenant repository system, and the BL’s progress towards a shared repository service for a wider range of partner organisations. Based on the lessons learned so far, we will discuss the potential of open source-based, shared repositories to contribute to an open knowledge environment, and how this project already opened up previously closed content.