Call for Proposals for Open Repositories 2017 – now open for online submissions

 

An online version of the OR17 Call for Proposals is also available: http://or2017.net/call-for-proposals/

 

The Twelfth International Conference on Open Repositories, OR2017, will be held on June 26th-30th, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. The organisers are pleased to issue this call for contributions to the program, with submissions due by 20 November 2016.

 

In 2017 the Open Repositories conference returns to Australia, where the Open Repositories journey started in Sydney 2006. Repositories have come a long way in the intervening years, having emerged as critical systems for managing, preserving and sharing intellectual, artistic and scientific output. As such, repositories have found a firm placing within scholarly processes and becoming an integral vehicle to moving towards true Open Science. The OR community has established itself as an important contributor in this space, something we would like to emphasise in Brisbane by promoting the community’s ability to always stay at the forefront of development of both infrastructure and good practice.

 

For OR2017 the theme is Open : Innovation I Knowledge I Repositories, aiming to reflect how the Open Repository community continues to be at the forefront of developments, sharing knowledge, and working as an enabler of scholarship and open science. OR2017 will provide an opportunity to:

 

·         showcase innovative repository services as well as innovations in functionality and user experience of repository software;

·         introduce innovative uses of repositories, for example to accommodate new types of content, serve new groups of users, or achieve new goals;

·         analyse drivers for repository innovation, including evolving technologies, changes in scholarly communication processes, as well as policies around open access to research outputs at institutional, national and international levels; and

·         explore and highlight innovation in the wider ecosystem around repositories.

 

We welcome proposals on these ideas, but also on other theoretical, practical, technical, organisational or administrative topics related to repositories. Submissions that demonstrate original and repository-related work outside of these themes will be considered, but preference will be given to submissions which address them. We are particularly interested in the following themes.

 

1.       SUPPORTING OPEN SCHOLARSHIP, OPEN DATA, AND OPEN SCIENCE

Proposals are invited to consider how repositories can best support the needs of open science and open scholarship to make research as accessible and useful as possible, including:

 

·         Open access, open data and open educational resources

·         Scholarly workflows, publishing and communicating scientific knowledge

·         Exposure of research and scholarship from under-represented groups and disciplines

·         Compliance with policies around open access, including funder mandates

 

2.       REPOSITORIES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Proposals are invited to consider how repositories and their associated infrastructures best support the needs of cultural heritage collections, organisations, and researchers. Areas of interest include:

 

·         Impact of aggregation on repository infrastructure and management

·         Exposure of collections and cultural heritage from under-represented groups and disciplines

·         Special considerations in access and use of cultural heritage collections

·         Reuse and analysis of content

 

3.       REPOSITORIES OF HIGH VOLUME AND/OR COMPLEX DATA AND COLLECTIONS

Proposals are invited to consider how we can use tools and processes to highlight data patterns and user pathways through large corporas including:

 

·         Data and text mining

·         Linked data

·         Interoperability and standardised interfaces

·         Interaction with large-scale computation and simulation processes

·         Issues of scale and size beyond traditional repository contexts

 

4.       MANAGING RESEARCH DATA, SOFTWARE, AND WORKFLOWS

Proposals are invited to consider how repositories can support the needs of research data and related software and workflows. Areas of interest are:

 

·         Curation lifecycle management, including storage, software and workflows

·         Digital preservation tools and services

·         Reuse and analysis of scientific content

·         Scholarly workflows, publishing and communicating scientific knowledge

·         Training, awareness raising and outreach

 

5.       INTEGRATING WITH THE WIDER WEB AND EXTERNAL SYSTEMS

Proposals are invited to explore, evaluate, or demonstrate integration with external systems, including:

 

·         CRIS and research management systems

·         Notification and compliance tracking systems

·         Identifier services

·         Preservation services and repositories

·         Publisher systems

·         Collection management systems and workflows

·         Repository networks and aggregators of repository  content

 

6.       EXPLORING  METRICS, ASSESSMENT,AND IMPACT

Proposals are invited to present experiences on tools and services to measure the impact of research via the repository as well as elsewhere, including:

 

·         Bibliometrics

·         Downloads (e.g. COUNTER compliance)

·         Altmetrics

·         Other alternative methods of tracking and presenting impact

 

7.       MANAGING RIGHTS

Proposals are invited to examine the role of rights management in the context of open repositories, including:

 

·         Research and scholarly communication outputs

·         Copyright status and licenses (e.g. Creative Commons, Open Data Commons)

·         Embargoes

·         Management of cultural property rights, including indigenous intellectual property rights

·         Requirements of funder mandates

 

8.       DEVELOPING AND TRAINING STAFF

Proposals are invited to consider the evolving role of staff who support and manage repositories across libraries, cultural heritage organisations, research offices and computer centres, especially:

 

·         New roles and responsibilities

·         Training needs and opportunities

·         Career paths, retention, and recruitment

·         Community support

 

KEY DATES

 

Readers of this call for proposals who are familiar with the OR conference series will notice that it is issued somewhat earlier than in previous years. This is done to benefit international participants, aiming to provide earlier feedback on submissions in order to leave enough time in advance of the conference to make travel arrangements for a journey to Australia.

 

·         By 30 September 2016: Submission system opens

·         20 November 2016: Deadline for submissions

·         14 December 2016: Deadline for Scholarship Programme applications

·         03 February 2017: Submitters notified of acceptance (except Interest Groups)

·         03 February 2017: Registration opens

·         10 February 2017: Submitters notified of acceptance to Interest Groups

·         10 February 2017: Scholarship Programme winners notified

·         26-30 June 2017: OR2017 conference

 

SUBMISSION PROCESS

 

Accepted proposals in all categories will be made available through the conference's web site, and later they and associated materials will be made available in an open repository. Some conference sessions may be live streamed or recorded, then made publicly available.

 

PRESENTATIONS AND PANELS - GENERAL TRACK

 

We expect that proposals for full presentations or panels will be two to four pages (see online for Proposal Templates). Successful submissions to the general track in past years have typically described work relevant to a wide audience and applicable beyond a single software system. Panels in the general track are expected to include at least some degree of diversity in viewpoints and personal background of the panellists. In general, sessions in this track will have three full presentations; panels may take an entire session or may be combined with a presentation.

 

Relevant proposals unsuccessful in the general track may be considered for inclusion, as appropriate, as an Interest Group presentation, developer track presentation, poster or 24x7 presentation.

 

PRESENTATIONS AND PANELS - INTEREST GROUPS

 

The opportunity to engage with and learn more about the work of relevant communities of interest is a key element of Open Repositories. One to two page proposals are invited for presentations or panels that focus on the work of such communities, traditionally DSpace, EPrints, and Fedora, describing novel experiences or developments in the construction and use of repositories involving issues specific to these technical platforms. Further information about applications for additional Interest Groups and guidance on submissions will be forthcoming.

 

24x7 PRESENTATIONS

 

24x7 presentations are 7-minute presentations comprising no more than 24 slides. Proposals for 24x7 presentations should be one to two pages (see online for Proposal Templates). Similar to Pecha Kuchas or Lightning Talks, these 24x7 presentations will be grouped into blocks based on conference themes, with each block followed by a moderated discussion / question and answer session involving the audience and whole block of presenters. This format will provide conference goers with a fast-paced survey of like work across many institutions, and presenters the chance to disseminate their work in more depth and context than a traditional poster.

 

POSTERS

 

We invite one-page proposals for posters that showcase current work (see online for Proposal Templates). OR2017 will feature digital rather than physical posters. Posters will be on display throughout the conference. Instructions for preparing the digital posters will be distributed to authors of accepted poster proposals prior to the conference.

 

DEVELOPER TRACK: TOP TIPS, CUNNING CODE AND IMAGINATIVE INNOVATION

 

Each year a significant proportion of the delegates at Open Repositories are software developers who work on repository software or related services. OR2017 will feature a Developer Track that will provide a focus for showcasing work and exchanging ideas.

 

Building on the success of the Developer Track at OR2015 and OR2016, where we encouraged live hacking and audience participation, we invite members of the technical community to share the features, systems, tools and best practices that are important to you. Presentations can be as informal as you like, but once again we encourage live demonstrations, tours of code repositories, examples of cool features and the unique viewpoints that so many members of our community possess. Submissions should take the form of a title and a brief outline of what will be shared with the community.

 

Developers are also encouraged to contribute to the other tracks.

 

IDEAS CHALLENGE

 

OR2017 will also again include the popular Ideas Challenge. Taking part in this competition provides an opportunity to take an active role in repository innovation, in collaboration with your peers and in pursuit of prizes. The Ideas Challenge is open to all conference attendees - developers, non-developers, and everyone in between. Further details and guidance on the Ideas Challenge will be forthcoming.

 

WORKSHOPS AND TUTORIALS

 

One to two-page proposals for workshops and tutorials addressing theoretical or practical issues around digital repositories are welcomed (see online for Proposal Templates). Please address the following in your proposal:

 

·         The subject of the event and what knowledge you intend to convey

·         Length of session (e.g.,2 hours, half a day or a whole day)

·         A brief statement on the learning outcomes from the session

·         The target audience for your session and how many attendees you plan to accommodate

·         Technology and facility requirements

·         Any other supplies or support required

·         Anything else you believe is pertinent to carrying out the session

 

PROPOSAL TEMPLATES

 

The OR2017 proposal templates help you prepare an effective submission. Submission templates are available for download on the web site for this call: http://or2017.net/call-for-proposals/  Templates are available in Microsoft Word, Plain Text and RTF.

 

SUBMISSION  SYSTEM

 

The conference system is now open for submissions. PDF format is preferred.

 

https://www.conftool.net/or2017/

 

REVIEW PROCESS

 

All submissions will be peer reviewed and evaluated according to the criteria outlined in the call for proposals, including quality of content, significance, originality, and thematic fit.

 

CODE OF CONDUCT

 

The OR2017 Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy are available at http://or2017.net/code-of­-conduct/

 

SCHOLARSHIP  PROGRAMME

 

OR2017 will again run a Scholarship Programme which will enable us to provide support for a small number of fuII registered places (including the poster reception and conference dinner) for the conference in Brisbane. The programme is open to librarians, repository managers, developers and researchers in digital libraries and related fields. Applicants submitting a proposal for the conference will be given priority consideration for funding. Please note that the programme does not cover costs such as accommodation, travel and subsistence. It is anticipated that the applicant's home institution will provide financial support to supplement the OR Scholarship Award. Full details and an application form will shortly be available on the conference website.

 

Scholarship Programme Application Deadline: 14 December 2016

Successful Applicants Notified: 10 February 2017

 

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

 

Sue Hutley, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia

 

Andrea Schweer, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

 

Elin Stangeland, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

 

Contact: or17-program-chairs@googlegroups.com

 

LOCAL HOSTS

 

The University of Queensland; Queensland University of Technology (QUT); Griffith University

 

Contact: or2017@qut.edu.au

 

CONFERENCE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

 

FAQs about 0R2017: http://or2017.net/frequently-asked-questions/

 

Web site: or2017.net

 

Twitter: @0R2017aus Tag: #OR2017

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ORConference/