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ShodhSarthi

DULS Guide to

📚 Archiving & INFLIBNET Services

Master Digital Repositories, Self-Archiving, and India's Academic Network Services

🎯 Understanding Digital Archiving & INFLIBNET

Digital archiving and repository systems represent the foundation of modern academic knowledge preservation and dissemination. In India, INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network) Centre serves as the premier inter-university centre fostering scholarly communication and resource sharing across the nation's academic landscape.

📊 The Digital Revolution in Indian Academia (2024-2025)

  • 850+ Universities Connected: Comprehensive network coverage across India
  • 25,000+ Institutions: Colleges and research centers networked
  • 4.5 Million+ Theses: Available through Shodhganga repository
  • 15,000+ e-Resources: Accessible through e-ShodhSindhu consortium
  • 500+ Million Downloads: Annual resource access statistics

🔍 Core Components of Academic Archiving

Modern academic archiving encompasses three critical pillars:

  • Digital Repositories: Centralized platforms for scholarly content preservation
  • Self-Archiving Practices: Author-initiated content deposition and management
  • Network Services: Infrastructure enabling discovery, access, and collaboration

🌍 Global Context and Indian Leadership

🌐 Global Trends

  • Open Access movement acceleration
  • FAIR data principles adoption
  • AI-powered discovery systems
  • Blockchain for authenticity
  • Persistent identifiers (DOI, ORCID)

🇮🇳 Indian Innovations

  • Shodhganga: World's largest ETD repository
  • IRINS: Research Information Management
  • Vidya-Mitra: Integrated e-Content portal
  • e-PG Pathshala: PG course content
  • SWAYAM integration initiatives

🎯 Strategic Objectives

  • Universal access to knowledge
  • Research visibility enhancement
  • Academic collaboration networks
  • Digital preservation standards
  • Capacity building programs

📈 Impact Metrics (2024-2025)

INFLIBNET's Transformative Impact on Indian Higher Education:

  • Research Output: 47% increase in indexed publications
  • Collaboration: 3x growth in inter-institutional research
  • Cost Savings: ₹2,500+ crores saved through consortia
  • Digital Literacy: 2.5 million faculty/students trained
  • Global Ranking: Improved visibility in world university rankings

🗄️ Introduction to Digital Repositories

Digital repositories are organized, searchable databases that store, preserve, and provide access to digital content. They serve as the backbone of modern scholarly communication, enabling long-term preservation and global dissemination of academic outputs.

🎯 Core Functions of Digital Repositories

  • Preservation: Long-term storage with migration strategies for format obsolescence
  • Discovery: Metadata-rich environments enabling precise search and retrieval
  • Access Control: Granular permissions supporting open and restricted content
  • Version Management: Tracking changes and maintaining scholarly record integrity
  • Interoperability: Standards-based protocols for cross-repository communication
  • Impact Tracking: Usage statistics, citations, and altmetrics integration

1Repository Architecture

🏗️ Technical Components

  • Storage Layer: Distributed file systems, cloud storage, preservation networks
  • Metadata Schema: Dublin Core, MODS, METS, custom schemas
  • Access Protocols: OAI-PMH, SWORD, REST APIs, Z39.50
  • Preservation Standards: OAIS reference model, PREMIS metadata
  • Discovery Layer: Full-text indexing, faceted search, recommendation engines
Repository URL Structure Example:

https://repository.university.edu/handle/123456789/1234
├── /handle/ → Persistent identifier system
├── /123456789/ → Institution identifier
└── /1234 → Unique item identifier

Metadata Record (Dublin Core):
dc.title: "Impact of Digital Transformation"
dc.creator: "Sharma, A.; Kumar, R."
dc.date: "2024-03-15"
dc.type: "Article"
dc.identifier: "10.1234/example.2024"

2Types of Repositories

📚 Institutional Repositories

Purpose: Showcase institutional research output

  • Faculty publications
  • Student theses & dissertations
  • Working papers & preprints
  • Conference proceedings
  • Institutional records
Examples:
• IIT Bombay: Dspace@IITB
• JNU: Shodhganga@JNU
• IISc: ePrints@IISc

🔬 Subject Repositories

Purpose: Domain-specific content aggregation

  • Discipline-focused collections
  • Cross-institutional collaboration
  • Specialized metadata schemas
  • Community standards
  • Expert curation
Examples:
• arXiv (Physics, Math, CS)
• PubMed Central (Biomedical)
• SSRN (Social Sciences)

💾 Data Repositories

Purpose: Research data preservation and sharing

  • Datasets & databases
  • Code & software
  • Multimedia content
  • Simulation outputs
  • Supplementary materials
Examples:
• Zenodo
• Figshare
• Dryad
• Indian Bio Data Centre

3Repository Standards and Protocols

🌟 OAI-PMH Implementation Example

Protocol: Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting

Request:
GET /oai?verb=ListRecords&metadataPrefix=oai_dc&from=2024-01-01

Response Structure:
<OAI-PMH>
  <responseDate>2024-03-15T10:00:00Z</responseDate>
  <request>...</request>
  <ListRecords>
    <record>
      <header>...</header>
      <metadata>...</metadata>
    </record>
  </ListRecords>
</OAI-PMH>

🏆 Best Practices for Repository Management

✅ Quality Assurance Checklist

  • Metadata Quality: Complete, accurate, standardized descriptions
  • File Formats: Open, preservation-friendly formats (PDF/A, XML, CSV)
  • Access Rights: Clear licensing (CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, etc.)
  • Persistent Identifiers: DOIs, Handles, or ARK identifiers
  • Regular Audits: Link checking, format migration, integrity verification
  • Backup Strategy: 3-2-1 rule (3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite)

📤 Self-Archiving: Empowering Authors

Self-archiving, also known as Green Open Access, enables authors to deposit versions of their work in open repositories, maximizing research visibility and impact while respecting publisher policies.

🎯 Why Self-Archive?

  • Increased Citations: Studies show 50-250% citation advantage
  • Global Visibility: Indexed by Google Scholar, BASE, CORE
  • Compliance: Meet funder and institutional mandates
  • Preservation: Long-term accessibility guaranteed
  • Social Impact: Knowledge democratization for developing regions
  • Career Benefits: Enhanced reputation and collaboration opportunities

1Understanding Version Rights

📝 Pre-print

Definition: Author's original manuscript before peer review

  • Rights: Usually author retains
  • Archiving: 90% journals allow
  • Platforms: arXiv, bioRxiv, SSRN
  • Benefits: Rapid dissemination

📄 Post-print

Definition: Accepted manuscript after peer review

  • Rights: Check publisher policy
  • Archiving: 70% journals allow
  • Embargo: 6-24 months typical
  • Note: Add acknowledgment

📖 Publisher's Version

Definition: Final published PDF

  • Rights: Publisher owns
  • Archiving: 30% journals allow
  • Conditions: Often restricted
  • Alternative: Link to publisher

2Self-Archiving Workflow

🌟 Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Check Publisher Policy:
    • Visit SHERPA/RoMEO database
    • Search journal name or ISSN
    • Review archiving conditions
  2. Prepare Your Manuscript:
    • Use accepted version (post-print)
    • Add cover page with citation
    • Include funder acknowledgments
  3. Choose Repository:
    • Institutional repository (preferred)
    • Subject repository
    • General repository (Zenodo)
  4. Deposit Process:
    • Create account/login
    • Fill metadata form
    • Upload file(s)
    • Set embargo if required
    • Submit for review
Cover Page Template:

This is the accepted version of:

Sharma, A. & Kumar, R. (2024). "Digital Transformation in Indian Libraries"
Journal of Library Science, 45(3), 234-251.
DOI: 10.1234/jls.2024.001

The final publication is available at:
https://doi.org/10.1234/jls.2024.001

© 2024. This manuscript version is made available under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0

3Publisher Policies & Compliance

⚠️ Common Embargo Periods by Discipline

  • STEM Fields: 6-12 months typical
  • Social Sciences: 12-18 months common
  • Humanities: 24-36 months frequent
  • Medical Journals: 0-6 months (PubMed Central requirement)

🌍 Global Self-Archiving Initiatives

📊 Self-Archiving Statistics (2024)

  • Global Coverage: 5,800+ repositories worldwide
  • Content Volume: 200+ million items archived
  • Indian Contribution: 450+ institutional repositories
  • Author Participation: 35% of researchers actively self-archive
  • Citation Advantage: Average 64% increase in citations

🌐 INFLIBNET Centre: India's Academic Backbone

Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre is an autonomous Inter-University Centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC), established in 1991. Located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, it serves as the premier agency for modernizing university libraries and establishing a nationwide network for information sharing.

🎯 Vision & Mission

Vision: To be the leader in promoting scholarly communication and resource sharing among academic and research institutions in India.

Mission: To create infrastructure for sharing library and information resources while developing human resources in ICT applications for libraries.

1Organizational Structure

🏛️ Governance

  • Governing Council (Chairman: UGC)
  • Governing Board
  • Finance Committee
  • Director (Executive Head)
  • Scientific & Technical Staff

📚 Core Divisions

  • Library Automation
  • Database Development
  • Network Services
  • Training & HRD
  • Research & Development

🤝 Partnerships

  • 850+ Universities
  • 40,000+ Colleges
  • International Publishers
  • Global Consortia
  • Technology Partners

2Network Infrastructure

🌟 INFLIBNET Network Architecture

Technical Specifications:
  • Backbone: 10 Gbps National Knowledge Network (NKN)
  • Data Centers: Primary in Gandhinagar, DR site operational
  • Storage Capacity: 500+ TB for digital resources
  • Servers: 100+ physical and virtual servers
  • Security: Multi-layer firewall, SSL certificates, regular audits

3Core Objectives & Activities

📋 Primary Objectives

  • Network Development: Establish robust ICT infrastructure in universities
  • Resource Sharing: Facilitate inter-library loans and document delivery
  • Database Creation: Develop bibliographic databases of Indian scholarship
  • Standards Implementation: Promote international standards and protocols
  • Capacity Building: Train library professionals in modern technologies
  • Research Support: Enable access to global scholarly resources

🏆 INFLIBNET's Impact on Indian Higher Education

📈 Transformation Metrics (1991-2024)

Parameter 1991 2024 Growth
Connected Universities 50 850+ 17x
E-Resources Access 0 15,000+ ∞
Digital Theses 0 4.5M+ ∞
Trained Professionals 100 50,000+ 500x

💎 INFLIBNET's Flagship Services

INFLIBNET offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to enhance research productivity, facilitate knowledge sharing, and modernize academic libraries across India.

📚 Shodhganga

National ETD Repository

📖 e-ShodhSindhu

Consortia for e-Resources

🎓 Shodhgangotri

Research Proposals Repository

💻 Vidya-Mitra

Integrated e-Content Portal

📚 e-PG Pathshala

PG Course Content

🔬 IRINS

Research Information System

🚀 Implementing Repository & Archiving Solutions

A systematic approach to implementing institutional repositories and participating in INFLIBNET services ensures maximum benefit for academic institutions.

1Institutional Repository Setup

📋 Planning Phase

  • Conduct needs assessment
  • Define repository objectives
  • Establish governance structure
  • Develop content policies
  • Allocate resources (HR, IT, Budget)
  • Create implementation timeline

🔧 Technical Setup

  • Select repository software (DSpace, EPrints)
  • Configure server infrastructure
  • Customize interface and branding
  • Set up metadata schemas
  • Configure authentication systems
  • Enable harvesting protocols

🚀 Launch & Growth

  • Pilot with select departments
  • Train content contributors
  • Develop submission workflows
  • Market to stakeholders
  • Monitor usage statistics
  • Continuous improvement

2INFLIBNET Service Integration

🌟 Step-by-Step Registration Process

  1. Shodhganga Registration:
    • University signs MoU with INFLIBNET
    • Appoint Shodhganga Coordinator
    • Receive login credentials
    • Upload PhD theses regularly
    • Ensure metadata quality
  2. e-ShodhSindhu Membership:
    • Check eligibility criteria
    • Submit application with required documents
    • Pay membership fees (if applicable)
    • Configure IP ranges for access
    • Train users on resource access
  3. IRINS Implementation:
    • Request institutional account
    • Import faculty data
    • Verify publication records
    • Enable API integration
    • Generate institutional reports

3Best Practices for Success

✅ Implementation Checklist

  • Policy Development: Create comprehensive deposit mandates
  • Stakeholder Buy-in: Engage faculty, researchers, administration
  • Quality Control: Establish metadata standards and review processes
  • Training Programs: Regular workshops for contributors and users
  • Marketing Strategy: Promote benefits and success stories
  • Performance Metrics: Track deposits, downloads, citations
  • Sustainability Planning: Ensure long-term funding and support

📊 ROI and Impact Assessment

💰 Return on Investment Metrics

Metric Before Implementation After 2 Years Impact
Research Visibility Local/Regional Global 📈 500% increase
Citation Count Baseline +64% average ✅ Significant
Collaboration 5-10 partners 30+ partners 🤝 3x growth
Resource Costs ₹50 lakhs/year ₹5 lakhs/year 💰 90% savings

🛠️ Tools and Resources for Digital Archiving

Comprehensive collection of software, platforms, and resources for implementing and managing digital repositories and archives.

💻 Repository Software

Open source and commercial platforms

📐 Standards & Protocols

Metadata schemas and interoperability

🔒 Preservation Tools

Long-term digital preservation solutions

🎓 Training Resources

Courses, workshops, and documentation

🧠 Knowledge Assessment: Archiving & INFLIBNET Services

What is the primary purpose of Shodhganga repository?
Store undergraduate project reports
Archive Indian PhD theses and dissertations
Provide access to international journals
Host faculty research papers
Question 1 of 10 | Score: 0
Inspired By:
Dr. Rajesh Singh, University Librarian

Conceptualized, Designed and Developed By:
Ranjeet Kumar Singh, Assistant Librarian

Content By:
DULS Team

Disclaimer:
The developer has used open-source codes, along with took help from GenAI tools to develop this web-guide. This web-guide is meant for educational purpose only. All the contents available on this web-guide is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, the users may use their own discretion while using this guide and it will be user's sole responsibility to check the authenticity of any information provided in the web-guide.

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