Digital repositories and their associated services: from capacity building to sustainability

At the time of writing this chapter the Irish National Digital Learning Resources (NDLR) service may be incorporated into the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. The capacity for a service such as the NDLR has been proven; now it remains to be seen how it can be sustained. The NDLR was established as a collaborative pilot service project in 2004 largely by the University sector with little representation from the Institutes of Technologies. By 2006, the NDLR had grown considerably as 21 of the Irish institutions of higher education became involved. By 2010, many members were registering from organisations outside of the 21 main institutions of higher education in Ireland. These organisations included other educational institutions and bodies in the wider public sector. This chapter will provide an overview of Open Educational Resources (OERs) and the NDLR service in the context of the role that OER services can play in teaching and learning at higher level. It will also explore the legacy of the NDLR and the issues around its sustainability in a changing higher education landscape.