February 4, 2022

On February 16, 2022, the Drexel Libraries will fully decommission the iDEA digital repository platform. After that day, iDEA will no longer be accessible. iDEA served as the University’s digital repository since 2014 but has now reached its end of life.

The Libraries migrated all content stored in iDEA to two new systems last October in preparation for retiring the repository. Now, digitized archival materials from the Drexel University Archives and the College of Medicine Legacy Center are available in the Drexel University Archival Collections platform. The Drexel Research Discovery portal provides access to Drexel-generated research assets, including theses and dissertations and research output.

Migrating from iDEA to these new systems supports the Libraries’ work to enable preservation and discovery for all Drexel digital objects and research outputs so they are findable, accessible, interoperable, and usable through an efficient integration of search and discovery tools.

Both platforms connect to DragonSearch, the Libraries’ online discovery search tool, allowing members of the Drexel community to identify and locate University-affiliated research outputs and archival collections, and to access books, articles and licensed databases all through one search tool.

About the Drexel University Archival Collections Platform

The new Drexel University Archival Collections platform makes it easy for students, faculty and researchers to explore digital archival materials from the Drexel University Archives and the College of Medicine Legacy Center Archives & Special Collections from a single search tool. Digitized collection materials include historical images, audio recordings, video, and text. Enhancements to the platform are ongoing, along with the addition of new collections and digitized materials as they become available. 

About the Drexel Research Discovery Portal

Now, all Drexel-generated research assets (including theses, dissertations and graduate student projects) are available via the Drexel Research Discovery portal. This new research portal broadens the impact of Drexel's research output, offering a single platform to showcase all Drexel research assets, including publications, data sets, and creative works, with integrated search and display.

Please update your bookmarks to link to the Drexel Research Discovery portal and the Drexel University Archival Collections platform. After February 16, iDEA will no longer be accessible.

For more information, visit our website or contact libraries@drexel.edu