Frequently Asked Questions about Repositories in DRIVER

The DRIVER project finished in December 2009 and was set up with a large number of international partners to help the establishment and development of the European open access repository infrastructure. Below are frequently asked questions about repositories in DRIVER.

Presentations by DRIVER partners on developments in DRIVER are available on the presentations webpage and the presentation titled The DRIVER initiative for networking repositories is particularly recommended as an explanation of what the project was about.

If these do not answer your questions please contact the DRIVER Helpdesk.

 

How can I make sure that my repository can be processed within DRIVER?

Make sure that your repository uses the OAI interface.

How can I make sure that my repository is found by all OAI search engines?

Make sure that your repository is listed in the OAI registries; especially OpenDOAR, ROAR, openarchives.org and country listings.

How can I make my reposiory DRIVER-compatbile?

Make sure that your repository adheres to the DRIVER Guidelines and that the repository manager is familiar with the Validator tool.

Is it possible to deliver my scientific document xy to DRIVER?

DRIVER does not store documents. Scientific documents are stored in your insititution's repository which is then harvested by DRIVER.

Which material does DRIVER include?

DRIVER Search Service focusses on open access scientific documents. In some cases additional material from the integrated servers as cultural heritage material, digital collections are also included.

Is it allowed to integrate links to the DRIVER application in our local portal?

Yes and DRIVER would actively encourage this.

How can I change the official name of my repository in DRIVER?

Please contact the DRIVER Helpdesk

How can I change the repository administrator email in DRIVER?

Please contact the DRIVER Helpdesk

Does DRIVER provide its data as a data provider via OAI-PMH?

Yes, via the OAI-PMH Publisher

I can't see my repository in DRIVER Search Service, why?

Processing - harvesting, aggregating, indexing - takes some time before it can be activated. The automatic validation process done during the registration cannot check all inter-operability aspects defined in the DRIVER Guidelines

Is there any way to export displayed records in other formats?

Currently not. We endeavour for this to be the case in the future.

Could our repository be re-harvested after it has gone through some changes?

Yes.

I am wondering if we can freely use the articles DRIVER is listing?

Yes. The papers that you found through DRIVER are Open Access, derived from institutional repositories. Open Access material, such as the articles that you found, is material that can be viewed and used by anyone, free of charge.

What does this message in the registration process mean: "Warning! The repository manager's email address does not match the administrator e-mail you entered in form" ?

When one fills in the registration form, at the bottom, where you provide the OAI interface information of your repository you have to give the OAI interface url in the address field, not the homepage url. It is this address that the system uses to connect to your repository and retrieve the administrator's e-mail address.

Is it allowed to integrate links to the DRIVER application in our local portal?

Yes

Which time period does the DRIVER information space cover?

It covers the last 15 years. But there is a broader amount of material digitized from printed material (back issues).

We have established a new electornic journal. How can I prepare this journal to be integrated within DRIVER?

If you want to set up an OAI interface, you can find an implementation guideline here: http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/guidelines-repository.htm

Recently I have found my scientific material in DRIVER but at the moment I cannot find it

Please check with your institution's repository first and if nothing appears to be amiss there, contact the DRIVER Helpdesk

I have found a document in DRIVER but when trying to access it there is no document link. Who can I access the full text?

Though DRIVER focusses on scientific open access documents, some repositories have a minor set of restricted documents which cannot be recognized.

Is it possible to get a list of all basic urls DRIVER uses?

The DRIVER information space shows a repository profile for each repository included. This profile die=splays the basic url among a list of repository characteristics.

What is the schedule for repository harvesting?

The DRIVER harvesting software allows a periodical harvest based on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule.

Last updated: 04-Feb-2010