Looking back

Abstract

In 2013, Deakin University Library undertook a self-assessment of its research repository, Deakin Research Online, against ISO 16363. ISO 16363 is heavily structured on the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) model, so an understanding of OAIS is critical for a full understanding of the ISO 16363 criteria. With over 100 ISO 16363 criteria, a self-assessment can be a large and complex undertaking. Not only are many of the criteria very complex to understand, their arrangement is such that many of them cover common ground, which may lead to duplication of effort. An effective and efficient self-assessment will include a preliminary review of all the criteria, including an assessment of their applicability and risk to the repository being assessed. If resources are limited, repository managers should also focus their self-assessment on high-risk or vulnerable areas. Regular self-assessments of research repositories are highly recommended. Repository managers also need to ensure that once a self-assessment is completed, that resources are allocated to addressing identified areas of improvement.