DICOM-based medical image repository using DSpace Hirak Jyoti Hazarika Department of Library and Information Science, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India Akash Handique Department of Radiology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, India, and S. Ravikumar Department of Library and Information Science, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India Abstract Purpose – This paper aims to provide image repository to the medical professional in an open source platform, which will increase the visibility of Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) image in a network mode; further, the proposed system will reduce the storage cost of the images to significant level. Design/methodology/approach – The authors have developed a new institutional repository model for the medical professionals cum radiologists to preserve, store and retrieve medical images from one database with the help of open source software. The authors used JavaScript programming to integrate and develop the DICOM Standard with DSpace. Findings – Major outcome of this work is that DICOM images can be accommodated in DSpace without modifying the image properties and keeping intact the various dimensions of image viewing options. Further, it was found that the images are retrieved without any ease because of the robust indexing system. Research limitations/implications – Major limitation of this study was the size of the data (5000 DICOM image) with which the authors have tested the system. The scalability of the system has to be tested on various fronts, for which separate study has to be done. Practical implications – Once this system is in place, DICOM user can store, retrieve and access the image from Web platform. This proposed repository will be the storehouse of various DICOM images with reasonable storage costs. Originality/value – In addition to exploring the opportunities of open source software (OSS) implementation in Medical Fields, this study includes issues related to implementation of open source repository for storing and preserving medical image. This is the first time in Library Science field to create and develop Open Source DICOM Medical Image Library with the help of DSpace. The study will create value for library professionals as well as medical professionals and OSS vendors to understand the medical market in the context of OSS. Keywords Developing countries, DSpace, Open source software, Repository, DICOM, Medical images Paper type Technical paper 1. Introduction In today’s world, technology plays a vital role in every field. Health-care industries is definitely one of the most important fields in which technology has invaded immense. Technological evolutions in the health-care industry continue to provide physicians/doctors with new ways to upgrade the quality of care delivered to their patients and improve the state of global health care. Paré et al. (2009) discussed about help improving the quality of care offered by providers and generated a significant amount of interest in open source software (OSS) inside the health-care community. In the past three decades, medical imaging has transformed the diagnosis methods which are used by medical professionals. Medical imaging is regularly ranked as one of the top medical evolution in “recent” history. The advancement in medical science and diagnostic domain is improving every day. In today’s environment, image resolution is sharper and visualization options are with multidimensional mode which enables physicians to offer tailored methods to their patients. Every year, globally, health-care industry produces good size of medical images, i.e. 35 ZB data size (approximate), which are stored to analyze various health-care informatics.These images which are produced under different circumstances are not stored in a formal system. At present, many institutions do not have any image repository in place to store these images that are produced from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanning tool. Developing image repository is a costly project. Globally, the sale of health-care information systems now represents a multibillion dollar industry The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/2514-9326.htm Collection and Curation © Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326] [DOI 10.1108/CC-11-2019-0039] The authors wish to acknowledge peer reviewer for their comments and suggestions which helped to improve and clarify this manuscript. The current research is not supported by any funding agencies from India or abroad. Received 16 November 2019 Revised 13 December 2019 Accepted 13 December 2019