This presentation details Princeton University Library's shift in software design and cross-departmental collaboration to enhance the long-term stewardship of research data and scholarly publications. The transition involved moving away from legacy, monolithic systems toward a more flexible and scalable approach. Rather than merely replacing old software with newer systems, the team took a step back to evaluate the underlying organizational needs, user requirements, and the evolving role of software, as well as how to build strong relationships and communication patterns within teams and with stakeholders. This process required continuous work to strengthen ongoing collaborations, manage expectations, and foster mutual understanding across diverse professional backgrounds and departments across the institution. With an emphasis on learning from the past, supporting innovation, and building a sustainable, user-centric infrastructure for the future, we will share the successes and lessons learned from the iterative, collaborative approach we took, we will also share insights for other organizations that may be facing similar challenges.

This study explores the evolution and impact of Open Science, driven by the Open Access movement and advancements in information technologies, particularly Free Software, in the contemporary scientific landscape. It emphasizes the importance of these technologies in democratizing access to knowledge, fostering collaboration, and ensuring scientific transparency. Employing a qualitative approach, the study examines how the dominance of foreign or restricted-access platforms challenges the universality and accessibility of Open Science, underscoring the need for inclusive strategies to address these barriers. The analysis highlights the role of virtual scientific communities, powered by digital technologies, as essential spaces for innovation and knowledge dissemination. Additionally, the work explores the contributions of Free Software and open-source code to the replicability and verifiability of scientific results—key factors in building a robust and reliable body of knowledge. Finally, the Moara Network is presented as an innovative Brazilian example that promotes scientific collaboration and collective engagement to democratize science, illustrating a transformative shift towards a more integrated and collaborative scientific community.

eScholarship.org, the institutional repository and open access publishing platform for the 10-campus University of California system, has been running for almost 23 years on mostly home-grown solutions which are now reaching their end of life. As we look to the future, we are considering existing community solutions, but finding some difficulties because of our long and organically grown history. We will explore how we remained sustainable as a service and a system as long as we did, and how we are hoping to put ourselves on a footing to grow sustainably for the next 20 plus years.

Repositories are a key component of the compliance ecosystem for federally funded research in the United States. Invest in Open Infrastructure conducted an ethnographic-style study on repository and institutional responses to public access policy changes initiated by the 2022 US Office of Science and Technology Policy Memorandum on Ensuring Free, Immediate and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research. Through interviews, workflow diagramming, desk research, and surveys, we outline the landscape of cost and price associated with providing the infrastructure to implement the public access policies. We identify labor as a major factor impacting repository cost, and note the challenges in pricing models that do not scale to enable the growth of labor needed to address these policies. From our workflow project, intervention points are identified and shared as opportunities to financially support repositories and reduce last-minute labor burdens on staff.

As digital repositories grow in scale and significance, ensuring their sustainability has become a critical challenge. Traditional methods of digital preservation often rely on energy-intensive infrastructure, contributing to environmental concerns. This paper explores the concept of green repositories, which leverage sustainable technologies to reduce environmental impact while ensuring the long-term accessibility and integrity of digital assets. The work examines the current limitations of repository systems, including their carbon footprint, resource consumption, and dependency on non-renewable energy sources. Drawing from advancements in green computing, energy-efficient data storage, and renewable energy integration, the paper proposes a framework for implementing environmentally friendly practices in digital preservation workflows. Key strategies include adopting energy-efficient hardware, utilizing cloud-based solutions powered by renewable energy, and integrating AI-driven tools to optimize storage and retrieval processes. The study also highlights real-world examples of repositories embracing sustainability and presents a roadmap for institutions aiming to transition toward greener operations. Ultimately, the concept of green repositories offers a dual solution: addressing environmental sustainability while safeguarding the longevity of cultural and academic resources. This approach not only supports the preservation mission of repositories but also aligns with broader global goals for environmental stewardship.