By mid-2026, the de facto standard for repositories will be renewed with the release of DSpace 10. At 4Science, we are working on a key initiative: the integration of the DSpace-CRIS extension into the core platform. DSpace-CRIS, the first extension implementing CRIS functionalities for DSpace, introduces an innovative approach to entity linking through the existing Authority Framework. On the other hand, the standard DSpace platform relies on a different mechanism, the Relationship Framework.

This proposal outlines our analysis of the differences between these two frameworks, the strategies adopted to ensure their coexistence during the merge process, and the best practices for their correct and efficient use in the new unified architecture. Future DSpace releases will aim to deliver a fully unified solution.

The Audit Trail feature in DSpace 10 provides repositories with a robust mechanism for tracking, recording, and reviewing all actions on repository items. This presentation will demonstrate how the feature enhances transparency, accountability, and compliance with institutional policies. We will explore the design of the Audit Trail, its integration with DSpace workflows, and practical use cases such as tracking items creation, metadata changes, and bitstream/bundle events. We will highlight how repository administrators can leverage this feature to maintain a complete record of repository activity. The presentation will also discuss the technical implementation, including the underlying data model, APIs, and integration with the DSpace user interface also providing a quick glance at how the Audit trail can be further improved tracking additional information.