LA Referencia and Lyrasis are proud to announce the launch of a joint project that began on January 1, 2025. This project is focused on improving the capacity, accessibility and management of open source platforms in Latin America and Spain. The initiative reflects a commitment to advancing open access to knowledge in these regions, addressing key challenges related to repository maintenance, updates and user support.

The project arises from a collaborative spirit consolidated during a meeting between the LA Referencia Council and the Lyrasis Board of Directors in Rio de Janeiro, held on March 18 and 19, 2024.

With DSpace as the leading open source repository platform in both Latin America and Spain, this initiative is designed to provide institutions with the tools and training necessary to better manage their repositories and adopt newer versions of the platform. Issues such as lack of detailed documentation in Spanish and Portuguese, limited technical knowledge, and insufficient collaboration across regions have hampered the effectiveness of repositories in open access to research.

Expected results

This project seeks not only to strengthen the Latin American and Spanish community in the use of DSpace, but also to build a stronger and more resilient global DSpace community, serving as a model for other collaborations in open source infrastructures for research.

Project objectives and focus areas

The project focuses on four main areas, with improvements designed to benefit both the regional community and the global community of DSpace users:

1.Improved documentation

Translation and improvement of resources in Spanish and Portuguese so that technical processes are clearer and more accessible. The new documentation will be contributed to the global DSpace documentation repository, benefiting the entire community.

2.Training and support

Development of a federated support model and personalized training sessions to strengthen institutional capacities and share knowledge globally.

3.Software improvements

Simplification of the DSpace installation and update processes, along with the creation of new tools to facilitate the migration of the platform, guaranteeing its usability for regional and international users.

4.Community commitment

Strengthening regional networks and increasing participation in global DSpace governance to represent local needs and contribute to the open source ecosystem.

LA Referencia will begin the project by hiring a support team and creating critical materials, such as translated guides and training resources. Throughout the development of the initiative, institutions will have access to personalized support, regular updates and opportunities to contribute to the global DSpace community.

Voices of the community

Leaders from the open source community shared their perspectives on this initiative:

•Lautaro Matas, Executive and Technical Director of LA Referencia:

“Repositories are a key component of the open science ecosystem in Latin America and Spain, but they face significant resource constraints. With this initiative, we seek to empower the community with the tools, expertise and support necessary to maintain robust repositories and actively participate in the global open science ecosystem.”

•Robinson Zapata, President of LA Referencia:

“The national science and technology institutions of Latin America and Spain are leading key advances in global open science. This collaboration strengthens their capacity to manage repositories, ensuring that the scientific production they manage is accessible, interoperable and aligned with global standards.”

•John Wilkin, CEO of Lyrasis:

“At Lyrasis we are committed to community software development and open repositories. Our support for this initiative represents an important investment in both aspects.”

•Maureen Walsh, President of the DSpace Leadership and Management Group:

“It is wonderful to see this collaboration between LA Referencia and Lyrasis, which highlights the importance of DSpace in the global open science infrastructure.”

Long-term impact and sustainability

The project has been designed with a focus on sustainability. By building local and regional capabilities, it ensures that the benefits extend beyond the initial phase, creating a resilient network capable of adapting to future challenges.

For more information about this project and how to participate, please contact:

larereference@larereference.redclara.net