Navigating Open Source Lessons Learned as a first-time service manager

Presentation for Samvera Connect, October 28, 2025

This session explores the multifaceted role of managing IU’s Digital Collections service within an open source environment, viewed through the lens of a newly minted Digital Collections librarian. I’ll share highlights from my learning journey - starting with understanding the behind the scenes nuts and bolts of IU’s Hyrax Implementation, progressing to the process of mapping metadata for incoming collections and legacy collections slated for migration. I’ll also explore our approach to onboarding and training collection managers, helping them build confidence in navigating the dashboard interface and tools. Lastly, I’ll touch on our ongoing efforts to respond to meet accessibility requirements. My hope is that this session serves as a springboard for others stepping into service-oriented roles in the Samvera community.