The Simple Web-service Offering Repository Deposit (SWORD) vision is about 'lowering the barriers to deposit', primarily for depositing content into repositories, and additionally, for depositing into any system which may wish to receive content from remote sources. The SWORD protocol defines a standard mechanism for depositing into repositories and other systems. The project and protocol were developed because there was previously no standardised way of doing this. A standard deposit interface allows repository services to be built that can offer functionality such as deposit from multiple locations, e.g. disparate repositories, desktop drag'n'drop tools, or from within standard office applications. SWORD can also facilitate deposit to multiple repositories, increasingly important for depositors who wish to deposit to funder, institutional or subject repositories. There are many other possibilities, including migration of content between repositories and transfer to preservation services. In addition to refining the existing SWORD application profile, the SWORD2 project has developed a number of tools and services to demonstrate these possibilities. It has also been pro-active in promoting SWORD and encouraging its uptake within other repositories, services and tools, notably with its adoption into the Microsoft Article Authoring Add-in for Word 2007 and with the new Microsoft Zentity repository system.
The core aims of the project were to update the SWORD Protocol, the SWORD repository code libraries in the DSpace, Fedora, EPrints and Intrallect repositories, and the existing reference demonstrators. A Facebook application and validator have also been developed. Advocacy efforts include an e-learning case study, a briefing paper, a new SWORD website and a range of additional dissemination activities, including conference papers, presentations, demonstrations and workshops at a number of national and international conferences and meetings. ...
All of the project work has now been successfully completed. The SWORD2 outputs have been extremely well received by the repository community, and the SWORD profile has been widely accepted as the de-facto standard for deposit by the repository and wider development community. The project and its outputs continue to gain acceptance and adoption within a growing number of real world implementations.
From the report's recommendations:
... In order to continue to capitalise on the success of SWORD, it needs continued general support. In addition, there are a range of options and issues for taking forward the SWORD work into a more fully developed standard. Without further discussion and development, there is a danger that the full potential of SWORD may not be realised.
Renewed and extended advocacy efforts to increase the global uptake of SWORD were seen as a
major priority for the second phase of the project. Despite the success of the project, it was generally felt that this goal was not addressed adequately, and should be pursued in any further phase. It should be noted that these activities take significant amounts of time and effort and should not be underestimated in relation to resourcing and funding.
Also, new activities and requirements have emerged in the interim. ... Options for future development, including the possibility of undertaking a process leading to formal standardisation, should be assessed, and recommendations made.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
