These repositories characterized as composite or mixed operations differ from the others primarily in the combinations of roles they play in the overall acquisition, storage, and access provision for information. The mix is such that they do not fit well with the other types. The NCES is similar in many respects to the Federal repositories in the comprehensive group. The Center is a receiver of government statistics about education, for which it provides storage and access, as well as a proactive agent in influencing what data are to be collected and by what methods. NCES is also an originator of data for its repositories, through both in-house data collection and contracting for data collection and research with other government agencies and other research organizations. As a part of the Department of Education, the Center is active in information policy formation as well, for education and for Federal statistics generally. The Center conducts in-house research and has an extensive publication program for research reports and statistical material. In this respect it is similar to the BLS and Census Bureau. However, unlike these other agencies, it also provides a rather wide range of training, research grants, and collaborative research programs with related government and private organizations (e.g., the American Educational Research Association). In addition, the institutional relationships in the education sector extend from the Federal level, to state education departments, to local school systems. This makes much of NCES’s information work part of the governance of this national system.

The mix of information roles in the GISP repository is much smaller and less diverse. The focus of this repository is much narrower, namely fostering collaboration and sharing information internationally about alien invasive biological species. It is a combined repository of index and linking information about related databases together with research reports and periodical publications related to this theme. The links to and involvement of international and non-US agencies are extensive. In this respect the GISP site is similar to the NASA GCMD, though not part of a comprehensive agency or providing for localized update of metadata. What is most notable about the repository is that is has developed from a largely voluntary effort and is heavily dependent on international collaboration. It illustrates the capability of Web-based resources to support collaboration among widely dispersed and diverse organizations with a common concern or goal.

For both organizations, information access is central to their mission. Therefore electronic access to their content is a high priority. In both cases the content is both digital and paper-based, so multiple formats and delivery mechanisms are required. For NCES, however, the publications are developed largely in-house, while the GISP publications are compiled from many external sources. Therefore the requirements of administration and vetting of content are different. NCES has mostly hierarchical or contractual relationships with information providers or creators, and thus more control over content and format. The GISP organization is largely voluntary, with more network relationships and informality governing interactions.