Automating the importation of a historic scientific serial into a digital repository

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the transition of a collection in Texas A&M University's institutional repository from single item submission to batch importation as a primary method of ingest. This transition was made possible with assistance and technical work on behalf of the library.Design/methodology/approachThe digital initiatives staff examined the workflow of the collection's manager and submitters. A process was created to produce the necessary data structures for batch import from resources that were already being generated by the collection workflow.FindingsIt was found that batch importing assistance provided by the library improved the collection's growth rate and efficiency without interrupting the workflow of the collection management team.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates the benefit of libraries and other institutional repository hosts offering batch‐loading assistance to managers of large repository collections.Originality/valueThis paper should resonate with institutional repository managers and digital services librarians, as many have neglected to offer batch importing or other assistance to users citing a lack of resources.