The future of repositories: attending the RLUK Repositories Symposium 2026

On 8^th May Stuart and I from the Scholarly Communications team attended a symposium on institutional repositories organised by Research Libraries UK at the British Library. We were keen to hear about developments and innovations in the sector and any implications there might be for WIRE. While reflecting on how repositories might adapt within an uncertain HE research landscape, the event encouraged us to consider the themes of securing, sharing and sustaining and thereby imagine what a positive future for repositories might look like.

There were many enlightening presentations, particularly the keynote talk by Kathleen Shearer, Executive Director of COAR on harnessing the potential of repositories. After reviewing a brief history of repositories, Shearer discussed how repositories need to be ready to deal with the challenges currently presented in the scholarly communications field, most notably the reduction in research funding, dissatisfaction with the publishing system, declining public trust in science, and the rise of AI. Whilst AI is transforming the practice of research, bots are having a significant impact on the repository infrastructure. Digital sovereignty is also posing a challenge to the sharing of research and data as countries seek to keep their data locked down and look after it ‘at home’. Despite these factors, Shearer emphasised the continued significance of repositories: their public value in facilitating research outside of academia, their role in supporting research integrity, and their stewardship of national research production. They also play an active part in the publishing ecosystem as evidenced by the ‘publish review curate’ model which facilitates a transparent publication system. Further development, she argued, is essential for repositories to support 21^st century research. To do this, repositories need to be machine learning and AI ready, they need better metadata and machine-friendly formats, and they also need to be sustainable and properly funded. Most importantly, they need to remain open.

Other discussions in the symposium focused on the importance of green open access for a higher education sector where the tightening of institutional budgets and research funding alongside discontent with the global publishing system (particularly transitional agreements) has made the repository route more salient than ever. The ‘Repository Voices’ segment of the day gave an insight into collaborative services and the strength of operating in unity. Sally Chambers spoke about the shared repository service for cultural heritage organisations hosted by the British Library- a multi-tenanted system which includes research produced by 10 partner institutions.  Sally Dalton and Kate Petherbridge presented insights from the White Rose repository service including developments for a new repository for open learning assets.

Breakout sessions in the afternoon provided opportunities for further discussions on two sets of issues relating to the future of repositories: governance, sustainability and shared services; and trust, integrity and security.

All in all, the symposium provided a vital space for the repository community to come together and reflect on a rapidly evolving future that we need to be ready for. It has given us a lot of food for thought that will no doubt keep us busy as we look at ways to develop and futureproof our institutional repository.

Sarah Dar, Scholarly Communications Officer

Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fsse-info/2825447785/ shared under a creative commons licence