What question did this study set out to answer?

Examine the implementation of openCost for better cost transparency in the DSpace repository.

May 9, 2026Open Access

Introducing openCost in DSpace : The path to a minimum viable implementation

Key Points

Examine the implementation of openCost for better cost transparency in the DSpace repository.
Data collected from the Gutenberg Open Science repository dating back to 2022.
Adoption of openCost standards for distributing cost data via OAI-PMH.
Utilization of XSLT shared by the University of Ulm to facilitate implementation.
Successful initial implementation of openCost in DSpace for cost data.
Standardized cost data format established for sharing across platforms.
Enhanced transparency in cost information, paving the way for future expansions.

Abstract

The earliest cost data in our repository Gutenberg Open Science (DSpace) date back to 2022. Currently, all data is stored internally, but growing interest in cost transparency has prompted a first try at implementing openCost. openCost offers a standard format for cost data that can easily be distributed via OAI-PMH. Adopting a new metadata schema can be a daunting task. However, thanks to the University of Ulm’s publicly shared XSLT (published at the DSpace Praxistreffen 2025), much of the groundwork was already laid for the implementation in DSpace.

Introducing openCost in DSpace : The path to a minimum viable implementation

Key Points

Abstract

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