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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I am writing to inquire whether you, <SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>as an institution who uses DSpace for your
institutional repository, </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial>would be
interested in answering some of my questions for a research
assignment. I am currently a doctoral student at University of North
Texas; I am also a manager of Acquisitions and Interlibrary Loan at Dallas
Public Library. My research assignment is to analyze DSpace, and its
effectiveness as an open source software program for institutions who use DSpace
as an institutional repository.<BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT>If it is not an imposition on your time,
would you mind answering some of my questions regarding DSpace?<SPAN
class=921531423-25042005> Please reply privately to me and
my email address is listed in the signature line.</SPAN><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><FONT face=arial>1. Since the
launch of the DSpace in November 2002, how successful is the project as a
digital institutional repository overall, not just for MIT Libraries but for
other institutions? </FONT><BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>2</SPAN>. According to the DSpace Instances
website, there are 79 institutions using DSpace. Is this an accurate
figure? What were MIT/HP's expectations of the number of
institutions using DSpace when the project was launched?<BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>3</SPAN>. What is the general consenus on the
perception of DSpace from the community at large? <BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>4</SPAN>. After reading several articles and some
threaded postings, it is my understanding that the Google Scholar has resulted
in the cancellation of the project between DSpace and Google. What
are your thoughts on this subject?<BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>5</SPAN>. Could you describe any upcoming
projects in relation to DSpace?<BR><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>6</SPAN>. As you look back, has DSpace met the
developer's original expectations? How will DSpace evolve in the next five
years?<BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <BR> </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005></SPAN><FONT face=Arial>T<SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>his is a question for MIT and Hewlett
Packard:</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN
class=921531423-25042005>As the colloboration between Hewlett Packard and MIT
Libraries is approaching its fifth year, will the partnership continue beyond
the five-year project? What are the upcoming goals for the
continuing partnership, if any? <BR></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></FONT><FONT face=arial>Thank you for your assistance in this
matter.</FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman"> <BR> <BR></FONT><FONT
face=arial>Mary Jo Venetis</FONT><BR><FONT face=arial>UNT Doctoral
Student</FONT><BR><FONT face=arial>Dallas Public Library</FONT><BR><FONT
face=arial color=#000000><A
href="mailto:mjvenetis@sbcglobal.net">mjvenetis@sbcglobal.net</A></FONT><BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>