DSpace 7+ Administration, Customization, and Integration Training Course

Introduction to DSpace and Its Functionalities

• Overview of DSpace: A digital repository system designed to store, manage, and preserve digital content.
• DSpace 7+ Architecture: Examination of the backend, frontend, and REST APIs that form the foundation of the platform.
• Repository Workflow and Structure: Detailed exploration of communities, collections, items, and metadata management within DSpace.
• Key Features, Functionalities, and Use Cases: Highlighting the core capabilities and applications of DSpace for government and institutional repositories.
• User and Administrative Interfaces: Overview of the user interface and administrative tools available in DSpace 7+.

Installation and Configuration of DSpace 7+

• Infrastructure Requirements: Detailed list of necessary components, including database, servers, and dependencies for optimal performance.
• Backend and Frontend Installation: Step-by-step guide to installing the DSpace REST API backend and Angular UI frontend.
• Initial Configurations and System Parameters: Instructions for setting up initial configurations and system parameters for efficient operation.
• Basic Customization: Guidance on customizing language, appearance, and permissions to meet specific organizational needs.
• Best Practices for Production Environment Deployment: Recommendations for deploying DSpace in a production environment to ensure reliability and security.

Administration, Usage, and Monitoring of DSpace 7+

• Management of Communities, Collections, and Items: Procedures for creating and managing communities, collections, and items within the repository.
• User Roles, Permissions, and Access Control: Explanation of user roles, permissions, and access control mechanisms to ensure secure repository management.
• Data and Metadata Management: Techniques for importing and exporting data and metadata using tools such as Batch Import and CSV files.
• System Monitoring and Log Management: Strategies for monitoring system performance and managing logs to maintain operational integrity.
• Backup and Data Recovery Strategies: Best practices for backing up data and recovering from potential data loss scenarios.
• System Updates and Environment Maintenance: Guidelines for updating the system and maintaining a stable environment for continuous operation.

Development of Customizations and Plugins

• DSpace 7+ Development Architecture: Overview of the development framework, including frontend and backend customization options.
• Frontend Customization: Instructions for customizing the Angular UI, layout, branding, and themes to align with organizational identity.
• Backend Customization: Techniques for modifying REST API services, events, and other backend components to enhance functionality.
• Developing New Components, Extensions, and Plugins: Guidance on creating new features and extensions to extend DSpace's capabilities.
• Best Practices for DSpace Development: Recommendations for efficient and effective development practices within the DSpace ecosystem.

Integration with Other Tools and Systems

• Authentication System Integration: Methods for integrating DSpace with LDAP, SAML, and other authentication systems to enhance security.
• External Platform Connections: Strategies for connecting DSpace to external platforms such as library systems, CRIS, and data repositories for seamless integration.
• REST API Usage: Guidance on consuming and exposing DSpace REST APIs to facilitate interoperability with other systems.
• Integration with Indexing, Search, and Metrics Tools: Techniques for integrating DSpace with indexing, search, and metrics tools like Solr and Google Scholar.
• Process Automation and Interoperability: Best practices for automating processes and ensuring interoperability within the repository ecosystem.

Best Practices for Managing Digital Repositories

• Metadata Policies and Digital Preservation Strategies: Guidelines for developing metadata policies and implementing digital preservation strategies to ensure long-term access to content.
• Effective Structuring of Communities and Collections: Best practices for organizing communities and collections to enhance usability and discoverability.
• Rights Management and Licensing: Strategies for managing rights and licensing, including the use of Creative Commons licenses, to promote open access.
• Accessibility, Usability, and SEO: Techniques for enhancing repository accessibility, usability, and search engine optimization to improve user engagement.
• Security and Scalability Strategies: Recommendations for implementing security measures and scaling strategies to support growing repository needs.

Support, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

• Diagnosing and Resolving Common Issues: Steps for identifying and resolving common technical issues that may arise during DSpace operation.
• Performance Monitoring and System Optimization: Techniques for monitoring system performance and optimizing the environment to ensure efficient operation.
• Upgrade Planning and Version Management: Guidelines for planning upgrades and managing different versions of DSpace to maintain a stable repository.
• Documentation and Change Management: Best practices for documenting changes and implementing change management processes to support continuous improvement.
• Technical Support Procedures: Procedures for providing technical support to both internal and external users to ensure timely resolution of issues.

Summary and Next Steps

• Recap of Deployment, Customization, and Integration Workflows: Summary of the key steps involved in deploying, customizing, and integrating DSpace within an organization.
• Ongoing Community Support and DSpace Roadmap: Overview of ongoing community support resources and future development plans for DSpace.
• Recommended Next Steps for Team Skill-Building and Repository Enhancement: Suggestions for building team skills and enhancing the repository to meet evolving needs for government operations and governance.