#None #Charlottetown #Discovery Garden #Born-Digital #Islandora

A New Era for Digital Repository Solutions

In an exciting development for cultural heritage institutions, Discovery Garden and Born-Digital have announced their merger, effective September 5, 2025. This strategic alliance aims to revolutionize the digital repository space, offering cutting-edge solutions to galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM).

A Strategic Partnership

The merger combines over 20 years of expertise from both companies, particularly their leadership in Islandora development. Discovery Garden, known for its proficiency in technical migrations, was founded by the original creators of Islandora, while Born-Digital contributes its innovative Aurora platform to the partnership. Together, they are set to deliver the most comprehensive open-source repository services available, tailored for organizations of all sizes.

According to Discovery Garden's CEO, Gerry Lawless, this merger represents a significant investment in the future of digital repositories, focusing on solutions designed specifically for GLAM organizations. "By integrating the custom development strengths of Discovery Garden with the product innovations of Born-Digital, we are enhancing the cultural heritage ecosystem as a whole," Lawless stated.

Cloud-Based Solutions for All

One of the standout features of this merger is the Aurora platform, designed to eliminate traditional barriers to Islandora adoption. This platform offers an all-in-one repository solution for a single monthly fee, encompassing hosting, maintenance, and support. This model allows institutions to benefit without the need for extensive internal IT or development resources.

The approach not only simplifies the process but also enables organizations to focus on their primary mission of preserving and sharing digital assets without the complexities that often accompany tech implementations.

Focused on User Needs

The deep expertise of the combined team places a considerable emphasis on understanding the unique requirements of each institution. The organization recognizes the importance of custom solutions tailored to institutional needs, including scholarly outputs and digital preservation. Noah Smith, CTO of Discovery Garden and a founder of Born-Digital, emphasized, "We are integrating not only our technical skills but also our commitment to exceptional client service. This merger creates a unique opportunity to evolve our services based on direct user feedback."

With over ten years of shared experience tackling similar challenges faced by their competitors, the team is now better equipped to drive innovation and address the needs of cultural heritage institutions.

Looking Towards the Future

Discovery Garden's dedication to supporting digital collections and preserving cultural legacies aligns perfectly with Born-Digital’s mission of making knowledge accessible. By pooling resources and expertise, the new entity is poised to significantly influence the future of open-source digital repository solutions.

Institutions interested in exploring how this merger can enhance their digital offerings are encouraged to reach out and start a conversation. As they embark on this new chapter, both Discovery Garden and Born-Digital reaffirm their commitment to serving the GLAM sector with tools that empower and support their missions.

For further inquiries, parties interested can connect via email at [e-mail protected]. With the merger, both companies are on a path to set new benchmarks in digital repository innovation, tailored to meet the evolving needs of the cultural heritage sector.

• ---

About Discovery Garden

Discovery Garden is dedicated to providing institutions with robust digital collection management solutions, helping cultural heritage institutions to preserve and access their invaluable digital assets.

About Born-Digital

Born-Digital is on a mission to empower cultural heritage institutions by delivering open-source digital repository solutions that ensure continued access to digitized knowledge.