What DSpace Offers

Key Features and Functions

 

DSpace version 7+ represents a modern, fresh digital library system with the rich management features that have been a feature of DSpace since its release in 2000.  Some of the key features of DSpace are:

1.  A modern Web Architecture

  • Angular-based front end (DSpace UI)

  • RESTful API backend (Spring Boot)

  • Decoupled architecture for easier customization and integration

2. A strong submission and Workflow

  • Configurable, step-by-step submission interface

  • Support for metadata-only and file-based submissions

  • Enhanced ORCID and DOI integration

3. Access Control & Authentication

  • Role-based permissions (admin, submitter, reviewer)

  • Supports multiple authentication methods:

    • LDAP / Active Directory

    • Shibboleth / SAML

    • OAuth2 (Google, ORCID, etc.)

4. Metadata Management

  • Supports multiple metadata schemas (Dublin Core, MODS, custom)

  • JSON-based configuration of input forms and display logic

  • Controlled vocabularies and authority control

5. Persistent Identifiers

  • Native support for DOIs, Handles, and ORCID integration

  • Planned: ROR and other PID support

6. Search & Discovery

  • Full-text search via Apache Solr

  • Faceted browsing by author, date, subject, etc.

  • REST API and UI both offer search interfaces

7. Import/Export & Integration

  • SWORD protocol for deposit automation

  • Batch metadata and item import/export (CSV, XML)

  • CrossRef, PubMed, OpenAIRE, DataCite, and ORCID integration

8. Compliance & Interoperability

  • OAI-PMH and SWORD for interoperability

  • Supports Open Access mandates (e.g., Plan S, FAIR principles)

  • Embargo, licensing, and rights metadata support

9. Customization and Theming

  • Angular theming tools and layout configuration

  • Custom metadata fields and workflows

  • REST API extensible for integrations

DSpace is open to customisation and configuration

The layered application design allows front-end customisation while still allowing easy upgrade to new versions of DSpace. The user presentation level for the web interface is scalable and has several presentation options, including a set of JSP or XML-based forms for user presentation that can be customised without affecting the underlying Java-based application.

Types of customisation we have included for our clients include:

  • Single sign-on integration
  • Spreadsheet bulk upload of resources
  • User interface presentation design
  • Alternative browsing presentation
  • Wiki integration for client maintainable, extended help

Prosentient has also taken DSpace further to provide integration with the Koha open source Library Management System in order to provide a unified catalogue of electronic and other library resources. 

DSpace also has an integrated, configurable, submission workflow and metadata definition framework which allows:

  • Self registration by contributors - although submissions are subject to approval.
  • A single or multi-stage submission process.
  • Structured form definitions identify the supporting information (metadata) to be supplied by the person submitting the document and also any follow-on authorisation, review, additional metadata and curation that library staff must complete before an item is accepted into the repository. This includes the creation of metadata specific to particular types or collections of documents.
  • Definition of structured authority lists for subject areas or other well known name/value pairs.
  • Archive tools check the repository content nightly for integrity.

Open access design & feed architectures

The integrated full text search engine allows simple and advanced searching. Content from Word, PDF, Excel and other formats can be full-text indexed for searching.

Standard query reporting tools can interrogate the metadata in the PostgreSQL (or Oracle) database. DSpace has cross-walk tools for XML that allow content delivery through standard protocols such as OAI/PMH. Content can be delivered from a highly scalable web portal or through harvesting systems such as OAI/PMH (Open Archives Initiative/Protocol for Metadata Harvesting). In addition, the system can generate Google site maps for integration with Google. Other cross-walk definitions can be added through an extensible harvesting protocol.

Through our integration with Koha, Prosentient Systems can also provide z39.50 access to the repository content.

The system can also be configured to automatically harvest content from other systems using OAI/PMH or its batch import/ingress functions.

DSpace supports RSS and email subscription to new content reports.

Archiving and metadata standards

The following archiving and metadata formats are supported by DSpace:

  • Dublin core (and other user-configurable metadata formats)
  • METS-based AIP format export
  • OAI-PMH for import harvesting and export