UM Libraries Provide Institutional Repository Services with DRUM

Over the summer of 2004 the University of Maryland launched the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland, DRUM. As a digital repository, DRUM provides a distribution service by making files available via the Internet. Descriptive information on the available documents is distributed freely to search engines. As an electronic archive, files are maintained on DRUM for the long term. Unlike the web, where pages come and go and addresses to resources can change overnight, repository items have a permanent URL and the institution is committed to maintaining the service into the future. The broad distribution of descriptive information for DRUM documents means that scholars, researchers, and students around the world can discover DRUM works using such popular tools as Google or Yahoo. Currently there are three types of materials being collected: faculty deposited documents, a Library managed collection of UM doctoral dissertations, and a collection of technical reports.

The University of Maryland Libraries are managing DRUM as a service to the campus, hosting the software and hardware for the system and publicizing the service on campus and off campus. The Libraries are also working to ensure that the submission process is simple and error free. Staff at the Libraries check files at the time of deposit to make sure that file submission was successful and to check for obvious errors in the submission process. No review of content is performed.

More information is available about:
• Depositing work in DRUM
• DRUM deposit policies
• Institutional repositories
• FAQs