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The DSpace Community Advisory Team (DCAT) represents the interests of repository managers and administrators across the globe and, indirectly, DSpace end users. DCAT is a permanent Working Group that advises other DSpace project governance and leadership groups (e.g., DSpace Steering Group). The Team solicits feedback through community-wide discussions, surveys, etc. to help ensure future software releases address the needs of the community. DCAT submits an annual report to the DSpace Steering group that makes the report public after review.
A specific area of focus for DCAT is defined annually by DCAT and the Steering Group.
"Community Engagement" is the focus area for 2023/2024.
DCAT members are primarily individuals who function as DSpace repository managers at their institution. Members have an interest in advancing the development of the DSpace software and expanding the DSpace user community. DCAT aims to have global representation in order to provide broad support to the DSpace user community. DCAT members generally devote approximately 5-10 hours per month to the Team.
The DCAT Chair is responsible for facilitating the Team. This includes:
Building consensus among Team members to set the group’s priorities
Establishing meeting agendas and running meetings
Reporting and communicating results of these meetings
Serving as an ex-officio non-voting member of the DSpace Leadership Group
Establishing sub-teams to work on various projects
DCAT holds open monthly teleconference meetings. The DCAT Chair distributes the agenda at least one week in advance.
For more information and meeting notes visit DCAT Meeting Notes.
Most of the DCAT members partake in these regular activities:
Contribute to recommendations for the DSpace Steering Group, DSpace Leadership Group, and DSpace working groups on DCAT perspective and community feedback
Participate on DCAT projects requested by the DSpace Steering Group, DSpace Leadership Group, and DSpace working groups
Champion particular feature requests or bug reports. This may include but is not limited to facilitating community-wide discussions on new feature requests, fleshing out minimum requirements and trying to identify potential a project team, interested stakeholders and developers.
Participate in mailing lists or discussion forums to share knowledge and best practices
Attend monthly DCAT teleconference
Some DCAT members are engaged in additional activities:
Collaborate on projects, tools and resources, including the DSpace Documentation, which serve the community
Organize physical or virtual user group meetings
Attend the DSpace Developers meetings
Survey the DSpace community to solicit comments and suggestions on developments for the software (archived surveys)
Network regularly with other DSpace users locally and internationally
Members of DCAT use a Google Group mailing list for their communications. Anyone from the community is welcome to join.
DCAT is a reconstituted version of its predecessor, the DSpace Global Outreach Committee.
For more information about DCAT, please contact the chair, Kimberly Chapman . Any question or comment is also welcome on the open mailing list.