Repositories for research - contributing to the Knowledge Cycle.

From the open access vision of Stevan Harnad 12 years ago, repositories have developed from subject based to the complementary institutional based model. IR growth has been fueled by timely project funding and now the growth curve shows a burgeoning number. The welcome increasing number also creates a dilemma of repository choices for the researcher. The University of Southampton has been involved with OA since its inception and benefited from project funding (TARDis) to implement its own institutional research repository. The project was influenced by internal and external drivers and has now evolved into a University funded service which additionally provides the underpinning management for the Research Assessment Exercise for 2008. The changing paradigms for repositories has given the movement new horizons that include IRs becoming one of the building blocks of e-Research.