UBC Library Open Collections

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

UBC Library Open Collections provides open access to a growing digital repository of research materials, including photos, books, newspapers, maps, videos, and theses, with APIs and advanced search tools to empower researchers.

Target Customer

{"UBC students","UBC faculty and researchers","Historians","Genealogists","The general public / researchers beyond UBC"}

Key Differentiator

{"Large, publicly accessible, multi-format digital collection (photos, books, newspapers, maps, videos, theses, etc.)","Open Collections are developed and maintained by the UBC Library's Digitization Centre and cIRcle (UBC’s digital repository)","Open access to materials for the web with ongoing preservation","Open Collections Research API for advanced queries, analysis, and custom views/apps/widgets","Advanced search capabilities and embeddable search widget"}

Implementation Timeline

Not specified in the provided content

Pain Points

1The site requires JavaScript to function properly, which can affect usability if JavaScript is disabled
2Some materials and descriptions may reflect the perspectives or outdated language of their creators; there is an explicit content advisory and ongoing review process
3Advanced search and API usage rely on technical knowledge (e.g., Apache Lucene syntax and API key management)

Key Features

1Access to 296,540+ unique digital objects across collections
2Advanced Search with guidance on Apache Lucene Query Parser Syntax
3Open Collections Research API for programmatic access and building custom views/apps
4RSS feeds and embeddable search widgets for integrating searches into external sites
5Curated collections such as Lind Collection, Chung Collection, BC Historical Newspapers, UBC Theses and Dissertations, and more
6Open access to materials via Open Collections and cIRcle repositories

Target Customer Industries

Client Results

1Public access to a large, diverse digital repository for research and learning
2Ability to perform advanced searches and API-based data queries
3Open access to historical and scholarly materials that support teaching, research, and public inquiry

Competitive Advantages

1Open accessibility: All materials are openly accessible to anyone on the web
2Diverse, multi-format collections that document various aspects of BC and beyond
3API access enables powerful querying, analysis, and custom applications
4Integration with cIRcle, the university’s digital repository, for broader repository coverage
5Tools for educators and researchers to enhance discovery (advanced search, RSS, embeddable widgets)

Key Benefits

1Open access to a broad set of digital materials for research and learning

2Advanced search capabilities and a programmable API for custom analytics and applications

3Curated, notable collections (e.g., Lind, Chung, BC Historical Newspapers) that elevate research context

4Integration with the university’s digital repository (cIRcle) for extended visibility

5Embeddable widgets and RSS feeds for distributing and integrating search results

Additional Product Information

Product Description

Open Collections is a growing, open-access digital repository managed by the UBC Library (and its Digitization Centre) and cIRcle, featuring digital objects such as photos, books, newspapers, maps, videos, theses, and more. It also offers the Open Collections Research API, advanced search capabilities, and tools for embedding and syndicating search results.

Target Market

UBC community (students, faculty, researchers) and the broader public including historians, genealogists, and researchers seeking open access to archival and scholarly materials

Unique Value Proposition

A publicly accessible, diverse, multi-format digital collection backed by an API and integrated digital repository (cIRcle) that supports advanced research, teaching, and public inquiry.

Technical Requirements

{"JavaScript must be enabled for full functionality","OpenAthens login available for resource access","API access requires an API key (documentation available in API section)","Advanced search uses Apache Lucene Query Parser Syntax; booleans, quotes, and field prefixes are supported","Embeddable search widget requires script embedding and configuration"}

Pricing Model

Not disclosed in the provided content

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