Archimède: a Canadian solution for institutional repository

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the main features of Archimède, which is the institutional repository system developed by Université Laval to address its specific needs.

Design/methodology/approach

These needs include the availability of a multilingual interface, the possibility to simultaneously index metadata and full text, and the compatibility with multiple technological infrastructures. The privileged approach relied on open source softwares and the use of automatic code generation tools in order to lower development costs and time. This led Université Laval's team to the creation of an institutional repository system that is based on Java technology and which is not OS‐specific.

Findings

The system offers: documents management functionalities; dissemination mechanisms compatible with OAI‐PMH2 (Open Archive Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting V.2.0); an indexing and searching framework (LIUS) that can index over ten documents formats; and a selective dissemination of information service. Archimède and LIUS are now distributed under a GPL licence. Further developments will extend the metadata formats range supported by Archimède and will include archive management functionalities.

Originality/value

This experience shows that the development of an institutional repository system resting on open source softwares, frameworks and application program interfaces could lead to impressive results, in a short amount of time and with a minimum of investment.

Citation

Benjelloun, R. (2005), "Archimède: a Canadian solution for institutional repository", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 481-489. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830510636283