Background
There are currently over 700 DSpace instances in over 70 different countries with a variety of use cases. While there are many helpful resources available to the community, barriers due to geography and language can make it challenging for new or potential DSpace users to connect with the DSpace community.
Program Goal
The main focus of a DSpace+Ambassador+Program is to identify a DSpace user in every country or region who is willing to volunteer to be a point of contact for organizations just getting started. These Ambassadors will help new or potential users with general questions about DSpace as well as providing guidance on additional resources available in the larger DSpace community.
Ambassador Activities
DSpace Ambassadors will be identified by country/region on the dspace.org website, they will also be listed in the welcome letter that goes out to new users in the community. New or potential users can contact the Ambassadors with questions. While the Ambassador is not intended to be a technical expert, they should be able to guide individuals in the right direction for more technical questions (DSpace manual, website references, wiki, mailing lists, etc.). Ideally the Ambassador will also help to identify resources, such as new helpful references or new service providers in their country or region. Some Ambassadors may also be involved in planning regional DSpace user group meetings or trainings. Ambassadors can also leverage their efforts along with other networks, associations and groups that may already exist in their region/country. DuraSpace and the DSpace Global Outreach Committee will work closely with the DSpace Ambassadors to ensure they can be successful in their role.
Ambassador Qualifications
The Ambassador role is primarily those serving as a repository manager/administrator at their organization, although anyone with DSpace knowledge and experience is eligible.
Ambassador Tools
There is a wiki tool kit available for Ambassadors that provides useful references. There is also a DSpace Ambassadors mailing list.
Acknowledgments
The success of any open-source project lies with the community voluntarily contributing its collective energy, information, enthusiasm, and effort. Similar to the role of DSpace Code Contributors and Committers, the Ambassador role is a contribution to the DSpace community. Although the role is unpaid, upon request DuraSpace will offer a letter of acknowledgment to Ambassadors recognizing their contribution and expertise as well as and thanking them for their collaboration with other organizations/academic institutions and DuraSpace.
Term
The Ambassador role is one year and can be extended upon mutual agreement. It is anticipated the time commitment will be a few hours a month.
Countries/Regions
If you are interested in volunteering to serve as an Ambassador for the countries/regions below, please contact Valorie Hollister at valatdspace.org.
Africa-Northern:
Africa-Kenya: Rosemary Otando from University of Nairobi <rosemary.otandoatuonbi.ac.ke>
Africa-Nigeria: Ezra Shiloba Gbaje from Ahmadu Bello University <shilobaatyahoo.com>
Africa-Nigeria: Stephen Akintude from University of Jos <sakintunatgmail.com>
Africa-Ghana: Abed Corletey from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology <corletey1atyahoo.com>
Africa-Central:
Africa-Eastern: Yohannes Mulugeta from Addis Ababa University <yohannesmuluatgmail.com>
Africa-Southern:
Africa-Tanzania: Paul Samwel Muneja <pmuneja@udsm.ac.tz> from University of Dar es Salaam
Australia/New Zealand: Sten Christensen <sten.christensen@sydney.edu.au> from University of Sydney
Bangladesh: Mohibuzzaman Zico <mailzicoatgmail.com> from BRAC University
Belgium: Christof Verdonck from Hasselt University <christof.verdonckatuhasselt.be>
Brazil
Canada
China
Colombia: Hugo Alonso Albarracín Barriga from Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango <halbarbaatbanrep.gov.co>
Eastern Europe
France: Sylvie Gresillaud from INIST-CNRS <Sylvie.GRESILLAUDatinist.fr>
Germany: Joachim Räth from www.stadtteilgeschichten.net <j.raethatstadtteilgeschichten.net>
Greece: Filippos Kolovos from the University of Macedonia Library <filipposatuom.gr>
Hungary: Jozef Bone from Central European University <bonejatceu.hu>
India: Rajat Gupta from Webinito Networks <rajatatwebinito.com>
India: Gujarat Bharat M. Chaudhari, School of Petroleum Management, Gandhinagar <bharat.dspace@gmail.com>
India-Maharashtra Region: Sunita Barve from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics <sunitabatncra.tifr.res.in>
India-Himalayan North
India-Eastern
India-Northeastern
India-Southern: G. Santhosh Kumar from Cochin University of Science and Technology <san@cusat.ac.in>
India-The Plains
India-Western
Iran/Persian language: Saeed Moaddeli from Encyclopaedia of Iranian Architectural History <moaddeliateiah.org>
Italy
Japan
Malaysia
Mexico
Nepal: Bishwa Raj Gautam <bswrajgautamatgmail.com> from the Nepal Library Association
Netherlands/Finland/Sweden
Norway: Monica Roos from Universitetet i Bergen <Monica.Roosatub.uib.no>
Portugal
Peru: Libio Huaroto from San Marcos University <lhuarotoatunmsm.edu.pe>
Russia
Saudi Arabia: Mohammed M. Allehaibi from Umm Alqura University <mma9859atgmail.com>
Singapore: Jayan Kurian from National University of Singapore <jayanntuatgmail.com>
Spain
Thailand: Thiti Vacharasintopchai from SIU International <thitivatsiu.ac.th>
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States-Central Plains (NE, KS, IA, MO): Richard Jizba from Creighton University <rjizbaatcreighton.edu>
United States-Great Lakes (WI, IL, IN, OH, MI, MN0: Jim Ottaviani from the University of Michigan <hellpopatumich.edu>
United States-Midatlantic (PA, NJ, DL, WV, VA, MD): Alvin Hutchinson from the Smithsonian Institute <HUTCHINSONAatsi.edu>
United States-Northeast (NY, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, ME): Alice Platt from Southern New Hampshire University <a.plattatsnhu.edu>
United States-Northwest (AK, WA, OR, ID)
United States-Pacific (CA, NV, AZ, HI): Beth Tillinghast from the University of Hawaii <bethtathawaii.edu>
United States-Rocky Mountain (MT, WY, UT, ND, SD, CO, NM)
United States-Southeast (TN, KY, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, FL)
United States-Southwest (TX, OK, AR, LA)
Others?
