The digital archive EMU DSpace collects, maintains, and provides access to the research outputs created by members of the Estonian University of Life Sciences or related to the responsibilities of the Estonian University of Life Sciences subject areas to support the competitiveness of the university and the development of a knowledge-based society.

The digital archive is managed by the Library of Estonian University of Life Sciences.

 

1. Data summary

The digital archive EMU DSpace runs and maintains publications and datasets from members of the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The repository is open to all researchers related to the Estonian University of Life Sciences to deposit their publications and data sets. The archive hosts content that it preserves but does not own any intellectual property rights over it. Access to the EMU DSpace content provided through the user interface (https://dspace.emu.ee/?locale-attribute=en) for all interested users.

Software. EMU DSpace is powered by the Dspace (version 6.3) platform. 

Content. EMU DSpace stores files of research publications and research datasets, along with accompanying metadata. Individual archive users who decide to save their research at EMU DSpace must provide files and metadata. The metadata is stored in Dublin Core format, the publication, and data files in formats chosen by the persons depositing them (all file formats are accepted). The total size of the data stored in EMU DSpace is not limited.

Users. EMU DSpace is openly available for download and re-use with no restrictions to everyone unless the files are exceptionally closed, restricted, or embargoed. EMU DSpace does not track, collect or retain personal information from users, except as otherwise provided in the digital archive. EMU DSpace collects, stores, and analyzes non-personal information about its users, such as IP addresses and cookies, and log files.

The data that populates EMU DSpace may be of interest to everyone interested in research outputs.

 

2. FAIR data

2.1. Findable data. Access to EMU DSpace content is provided through the user interface and standard APIs. EMU DSpace mints (produce for the first time) DOIs via DataCite for deposited research outputs and thus metadata is also discoverable through DataCite's APIs (Application Programming Interface). Once a publication or dataset is published and assigned a DOI it will not be removed from the repository and DOI remains publicly available. The metadata is discoverable thanks to standardized metadata-export format DublinCore.

2.2. Accessible data. The metadata of all records stored in EMU DSpace is openly available for download, re-use with no restrictions or embargo, and free for download. The publication and data files were made available precisely by the choice made by their depositors. Datasets can be deposited under open, closed, restricted, or embargoed access. Datasets deposited under an embargo are provided with an end date for the embargo. After the embargo period has ended, the dataset will be automatically made public. Closed or restricted datasets need access rights given by the dataset owner.

2.3. Interoperable data. The metadata of EMU DSpace records follows standard format Dublin Core and is interoperable. Interoperability is further enhanced by the API, which allows harvesting the entire repository via the standard OAI-PMH protocol. The publication and data files are available in all possible formats and ensuring their interoperability lies on the side of the depositors.

2.4. Re-usable data. The metadata of EMU DSpace records can be downloaded and used without any restrictions. The files are licensed by the precise choice of their depositors: ranging from being openly available on a Creative Commons or other licenses. Since all intellectual property rights lie with the data producers (depositors), EMU DSpace must respect these choices.

 

3. Resources and responsibilities

The responsibility for managing data related to EMU DSpace lies on the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library. The repository is hosted in the Estonian University of Life Sciences storage service physically located on the university campus. The administrator of the EMU DSpace is responsible for the content of the digital archive, the maintenance and curation of the data, and the operation of the software. The Library of the Estonian University of Life Sciences will be responsible for the long-term preservation of the data until the end of the repository’s lifetime.

The repository is open to all researchers related to the Estonian University of Life Sciences to deposit their publications and data sets free of charge.

 

4. Data security

EMU DSpace is maintained and operated by the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library. All data files are stored in the Estonian University of Life Sciences storage service in two independent copies and backed up on a nightly basis. Preservation and back-ups of the data ensured by the EMU DSpace preservation policies: daily backups, security updates, tightly controlled administrative access.

 

5. Ethical and legal aspects

Ethical and legal issues are tackled in the following way. Legally, it is on the side of the data providers - who register their services (e.g. data or publication repositories, journals) to ensure that the transfer of metadata records from their services does not violate intellectual property rights.

Metadata from EMU DSpace records can be downloaded and used without restrictions. The EMU DSpace administrator expects data providers to allow datasets to be made publicly available by licensing them under Creative Commons or other licenses that explain the terms of use.