3 Key Takeaways From the Open Repository Conference

Recently, our team got the opportunity to attend the Open Repository conference at the University of Chicago for their 20th annual conference. Our team got the pleasure of learning from librarians, developers, and repository managers from all over the world. This allowed us to gain invaluable knowledge that we were then able to take with us and implement into our day-to-day functions at Notch8. Here were some of those key takeaways:

1. The code we write is making a real humanitarian impact

Day-to-day life in software development is often long stretches of looking at errors deep in the complex code structure of an application. While solving these errors is certainly satisfying, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger purpose behind what we build. Creating software for digital repositories enables access to knowledge. As Heather Joseph noted in her keynote at the Open Repository 2025 conference, access to information is a human right defined by Article 27 of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Digital repositories serve this right by democratizing knowledge, removing barriers, increasing transparency, and supporting social inclusion. Digital repositories extend the lifespan of cultural and scholarly materials, enhance discoverability, and support global sharing. When we create code, we are contributing to an infrastructure that upholds knowledge as a public good.

2. AI is reshaping discovery interfaces

   
   

Technology evolves quickly, but the pace at which AI has entered our daily lives was quick even by tech standards. Advancements like large language models (LLMs) are changing how people access digital information by offering natural-language interfaces that help bridge the gap between user questions and digital content. The digital repository team at Northwestern has trained an AI model to replace traditional faceted search. While faceting searches narrow results through filters, AI can suggest related terms, broaden scope, and enable conversational interaction that expands the scope of discovery.

This AI revolution also brings significant challenges, such as ethical concerns, intellectual property issues, hallucinations, and a surge in bot traffic. In his closing keynote at the Open Repositories 2025 conference, Ben Zhao, one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in AI, reported that bots now make up 80% of all web traffic, up from just 5% a few years ago. Defenses against crawlers are limited, and most sites are simply trying to keep up.

AI has the potential to significantly enhance digital access and user experience, but these benefits must be balanced with proactive strategies to address the downsides of misinformation, copyright violations, and increasing automation threats.

3. Balancing Customization with Long-Term Sustainability

   
   

Digital repositories are built with longevity in mind. Supporting long-term access to large data collections while ensuring content remains searchable and discoverable requires complex software architecture. As with all applications, regular upgrades are essential to allow the application to stay functional and secure. But with more complexity comes more difficult and costly upgrades, sometimes requiring long-term timelines and significant development resources.

As a team that builds repository solutions, Notch8 must balance the immediate functionality needs with the long-term viability of the software we create. It’s important to help clients understand the trade-offs of a heavily customized application. While tailored features may solve short-term problems, they can create major hurdles down the road when it's time to update the platform or adopt new technologies. Needs will inevitably shift over time, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But overly complex, outdated codebases can slow progress for repository staff and result in higher long-term maintenance costs.

Wrapping it up

These three insights from the Open Repository conference helped remind us that we were not just writing code at Notch8. We are part of a community with the institutions preserving knowledge, the researchers seeking answers, and future generations who will inherit these digital collections. Furthermore, the rapid changes ahead with AI and user expectations remind us that there is always room to grow. The Open Repository conference energized our entire team and deepened our commitment to this vital work. Thank you to the organizers, presenters, and fellow attendees who made Open Repository 2025 such a valuable experience. We can't wait for 2026!