Knowledge Repository: A Taxonomy for Information Retrieval Efficiencies

The Knowledge Repository Module is the information backbone of the Extension Server. All information presented to citizens, as well as information generated and shared between extension employees, educators, and staff, is stored in the Knowledge Repository.

The centralized Knowledge Repository uses standard taxonomies to consolidate information into one place allowing knowledge to searched and retrieved with great efficiency and accuracy.

Extension customers will have the means to contribute to the knowledge system by providing feedback on the information they receive. Their feedback will improve the learning experience, give customers a sense of ownership in the Extension network, and verify that the content has been used successfully. The Knowledge Repository is, therefore, always up-to-date and contains the most accurate and meaningful information for residents and employees using the Extension services.

Benefits

• Information and publications are made available for the public to read, download, or print at their leisure without having to contact their local Extension office.
• Extension educators have access to teaching material, peer-reviewed papers and other resources that help them in becoming more specialized in their subject areas.
• The Knowledge Repository empowers customers to serve themselves through highly organized and searchable data. They find answers to their questions with limited direct correspondence with an extension agent, thereby reducing the workload of the extension agents.

Features

• Information Categories
  The Knowledge Repository is organized into categories and sub-categories so that the customers and extension educators and agents can easily narrow down their search for items of interest. 
• Search Features
  The search feature allows the customers and extension agents to search the knowledge repository for information using keywords and metadata.
• Access Permissions
  Access to information in the Knowledge Repository is controlled by different levels of security and permissions.
• Information Contribution
  Users of the system can contribute to the repository by:
  - Web form submission requests
  - Direct submission through the content management board
• Approval and Review Process
  The Knowledge Repository module has an integrated workflow for the approval and review process. This governance mechanism for the repository helps maintain the integrity of information offered up to employees and citizens while reducing the amount of duplicated information.