Welcome to the final newsletter of 2025! This edition of the quarterly DSpace newsletter is once again full of exciting updates from across our community. Inside, you will learn about a recent video production explaining how DSpace Governance Members are chosen, learn about an upcoming webinar on the new Matomo integration in DSpace 9, and read other news from our Registered Service Providers. And the biggest update this fall: a decision has been made about the merger of DSpace and DSpace-CRIS! Read on to find out more.

As we look towards the end of this year, we reflect with gratitude on the many exciting developments that have taken place in the DSpace community throughout 2025. We wish everyone a restful and reflective time and look forward to the new year and the road ahead.

TECHNICAL UPDATES

DSpace 10.0 Update

With the announcement of the merger of DSpace and DSpace-CRIS (see below), planning for the upcoming 10.0 release has begun. The 10.0 release will include a subset of DSpace-CRIS features (to be announced) along with any donated community contributions which do not conflict with the ongoing merger. This release is due around May 2026.

Upcoming maintenance releases for 9.x, 8.x and 7.6.x

Ongoing bug fixes are being applied to the DSpace maintenance codebases for 9.x, 8.x and 7.6.x. We expect to see new maintenance releases for these platforms in the next few months.

Reminder, per the DSpace Software Support Policy, all DSpace 7.x releases will be end-of-life (EOL) as soon as DSpace 10.0 is released. We only support the last three major releases. Therefore, support will shift to 8.x, 9.x and 10.x after that release.

DSpace COMMUNITY UPDATES

Community Announcements

DSpace and DSpace-CRIS merger approval confirmed

We are excited to announce that the merger of DSpace and DSpace-CRIS has been officially approved by DSpace Governance!

Erik Moore (DSpace Governance Chair) and Erica Johns (DSpace Governance Vice Chair) announced on November 24, 2025, that DSpace Leadership approved moving forward with the merger. Prior to this vote, the DSpace Steering Group also approved the merger on November 12, 2025.

What does the merger mean for DSpace? How will it proceed? Find out more by reading the official merger approval announcement as found on the DSpace Community Google Group. Stay tuned! More information on the merger will follow soon.

Invitation to Provide Input on Potential DSpace Integrations

DSpace Community Members are invited to provide input to the Lyrasis-funded CST Interoperability Project on potential integrations between DSpace and other applications or frameworks. Register here for one of the open workshops on December 10 or 11 or reach out to Jess Farrell (jessica.farrell-ctr@Lyrasis.org) directly. For more information on this project see the project website.

Community Resources

New Video: Governance Seating and Election Process

Have you ever wondered how DSpace Governance Members are chosen? Watch the brand new 3.5-minute long video entitled How DSpace Governance Leaders are Chosen: DSpace Governance Seating & the Election Process Explained.

This video, which is part of a series of educational videos about DSpace and its community, is now available on the DSpace YouTube Channel. In this video, you will learn about the DSpace Governance Seating process, and find out how the annual election process determines the composition of DSpace Leadership and Steering.

Do you have a question about the DSpace community? Is there a specific topic you would like to see explained in one of our videos? Email us at info@dspace.org!

Community Events

Polish National User Group Meeting

November 25, 2025

Jagiellonian University, Kraków

On November 25, 2025, the Polish DSpace User Group met at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. The program covered current community topics, building engagement and creating new opportunities to leverage DSpace, including its role as a reliable data source in various institutional processes.

A panel discussed the potential use of AI to shape DSpace as a repository of the future. Several case studies of recent DSpace implementations and updates were presented, inspiring attendees to further develop their repositories. The case studies showcased diverse approaches to implementing DSpace across different types of institutions in Poland. Participants also discussed positioning DSpace as a fully capable CRIS system, highlighting its advantages in this context based on concrete Polish implementations. It was additionally demonstrated that DSpace performs exceptionally well as a platform for managing and presenting academic journals.

A specialized DSpace implementation was highlighted – the Central Polish Medical Database – featuring highly advanced, domain-specific search functionalities.

Czech / Slovakian National User Group Meeting

December 2, 2025

ICS Masaryk University, Brno

The first official national meeting of the newly formed DSpace CZ/SK User Group took place on December 2, 2025, at ICS Masaryk University in Brno. As the inaugural gathering of this national community, the workshop brought together regional DSpace users to discuss the DSpace development roadmap, including plans for DSpace 10 and upcoming CRIS-related functionality. The program also included space for lively discussions and the sharing of local use cases.

Webinar: Exploring Matomo Analytics in DSpace 9

December 9, 2025 at 15:00 UTC

We are excited to announce an upcoming DSpace Deep Dive Webinar, entitled: Exploring Matomo Analytics in DSpace 9.

Matomo is a GDPR-compliant, privacy-first Google Analytics alternative built into the core of DSpace 9. This free webinar takes you on a concise walkthrough of the plugin – from its technical and conceptual foundations to the installation and configuration process in DSpace, and finally a live demonstration of the Matomo interface and the kinds of analytics insights it provides.

The session will be hosted by Holger Lenz (DSpace Program Coordinator) and feature the following presenters: Giuseppe Digilio from 4Science, Amy Swackhamer, and David Steelman (both from the University of Maryland Libraries, a DSpace Bronze Member).

Come join us! To learn more, and to register for this webinar, please visit the DSpace Community Google Group.

SERVICE PROVIDER UPDATES

We are happy to share the following news from our Registered Service Providers (RSPs). For a list of all Registered Service Providers and to learn more about the RSP Program, please visit our website.

Service Provider News

If we missed any news, please email us with your news to add to the DSpace News area of the website and our social accounts.

The Gender Research Center chooses DSpace-CRIS: the new portal dedicated to gender disparities in research is online

The European University Institute & Atmire: A trusted partnership elevating Cadmus

If you would like to receive the newsletter and are not yet subscribed, please subscribe. (If you subscribe, Lyrasis will only send emails pertaining to the DSpace Community Newsletter.)

REGISTRY

Is your DSpace repository listed in the registry? Help us maintain reliable information on the community of DSpace users around the world by registering your repository today.

GET INVOLVED

DSpace Community Advisory Team (DCAT)

The DSpace Community Advisory Team holds monthly open Zoom meetings for repository managers, developers and users of DSpace.

DSpace Developers Meeting

DSpace Committers and Community Developers hold a weekly meeting every Thursday. Anyone is welcome to attend. Topics may include release planning, reviewing upcoming code changes, and other technical discussions.

A Coffee with Holger: Meet-Up with the DSpace Program Coordinator

Do you have questions about the DSpace Community? Do you wonder how to get involved? Are you interested in becoming a DSpace member, but are not sure where to start? Join us for the monthly virtual DSpace Coffee Hour!

This event series, which takes place on every 3rd Tuesday of the month, provides an informal opportunity to ask questions, discuss ideas and suggestions, connect with other members in the DSpace Community, or just say "Hi" and introduce yourself.

Watch out for announcements and more information on the DSpace Community Google Group!

DSpace Deep Dive Webinar Series

Would you like to share your insights with the DSpace community? Whether you would like to highlight a specific DSpace feature, present on workarounds or creative solutions, share a migration story, or show how your repository deals with AI bot attacks, any topic relevant to the DSpace community is welcome.

Visit the DSpace website and fill out the sign-up form at the bottom of the page, or get in touch directly via info@dspace.org!

Membership

Is your institution interested in becoming a DSpace member? Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member and how to do so on our website.

DSpace Membership

ABOUT LYRASIS

Lyrasis, a nonprofit membership organization, partners with member libraries, archives and museums to create, access, preserve and manage information, with an emphasis on digital content, while building and sustaining collaboration, enhancing operations and technology, and increasing buying power. Lyrasis is the organizational home of DSpace and coordinates this newsletter.