In January 2012, The Repositories Support Project (RSP), UK met with the Digital Repository Federation (DRF) in Japan to share information and experience about the support that we both provide to institutional repositories in our respective countries, in particular the training events we run.
As a result we have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining how we can continue our relationship for mutual benefit. This is a three way agreement which also includes the United Kingdom Council of Research Repositories (UKCoRR). All the partners are very enthusiastic about the opportunities this holds:  Takahiko Nitta, Director of the Digital Repository Federation in Japan and Director of Hokkaido University Library: "The three organizations which share the purpose of promoting institutional repositories and open access in the both countries are now even more closely connected by signing the MoU. I am delighted with this progress and look for further collaboration. For the future of sustainable institutional repositories, people are among the key elements for success. Stated in this MoU are the importance of shared professional skills and expertise through mutual participation in workshops and conferences, which I firmly believe will contribute to further development of institutional repositories in both countries, and all over the world. One more fact I want to take advantage of this chance of stating is that the MoU is a result of exchanges of opinions and visions by those who know the realities of managing repositories. So I look forward to seeing future continuous successes of the three organizations."  Bill Hubbard, Director of the Centre for Research Communications, University of Nottingham, where the RSP is based: "We are delighted to establish this Memorandum of Understanding with the Digital Repository Federation and United Kingdom Council of Research Repositories. Working together, we can further our common objectives to promote and support institutional repositories and develop professional expertise in our respective countries as part of the global Open Access culture."  Gareth Johnson, Chair of UKCoRR: âOn behalf of the members of UKCoRR, Iâm delighted with this agreement with the DRF and the RSP. We look forward to working together in furtherance of our mission to promote the role and recognition of institutional repository managers and staff professionally in the UK.â  You can read more about the Memorandum and the meeting on the RSP blog: http://rspproject.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/japan-and-uk-in-agreement/ http://rspproject.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/a-visit-to-the-digital-repository-fe deration-in-japan/  Best wishes Jackie  Jackie Wickham Open Access Adviser (Repositories Support Project)  Centre for Research Communications University of Nottingham A31 Greenfield Medical Library Queens Medical Centre Nottingham NG7 2UH  T: +44 (0)115 8466389 F: +44 (0)115 8467577  jacqueline.wick...@nottingham.ac.uk  http://www.rsp.ac.uk http://crc.nottingham.ac.uk   This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage your computer system: you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation. [ Part 2: "Attached Text" ] _______________________________________________ GOAL mailing list GOAL@eprints.org http://mailman.ecs.soton.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/goal
