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Researcher Support Library Services: Being an Open Researcher

Open Access is a worldwide movement towards online (free to access) peer reviewed content with limited copyright/licencing restrictions.  Open Scholarship continues to broaden to include open data; open monographs; pre-registration of studies; pre-prints; open licences; etc., all of which accelerates greater impact of research in society, reproducibility of research and increased exposure for researchers.

University policy on Open Access

The University requires researchers to create a record for all their University affiliated research outputs and deposit an appropriate version of each publication via their Elements profile. To align with the REF 2021 OA policy, all journal articles and conference papers must be deposited within 90 days of the date of acceptance.

Open Access Journal Articles

Routes to OA Glossary

Image result for open access icon greenGreen open access:

  • Author publishes within a subscription (paywalled) journal in the traditional way
  • Author deposits Accepted Manuscript into institutional repository (PEARL) via Symplectic Elements within 90 days of acceptance
  • The Library checks publisher copyright policy and applies any requisite embargo period
  • This route meets most funder policies and is the OA policy for University of Plymouth and REF

Quick Link: elements.plymouth.ac.uk
Quick Link: help & support with Elements

[Video: quick demo of how to deposit Accepted Manuscripts via Elements]

Image result for open access iconGold open access:

  • Immediate OA on the publisher's website because of a payment made to the publisher (either an upfront APC or through the Library's Read & Publish deals)
  • UoP receives a block grant for APC payments from UKRI for grant holders only for use in eligible journals
  • Unfunded researchers may be able to achieve Gold through the Read & Publish deals
  • CC-BY licence should be applied by the publisher for funded work
  • Author deposits Version of Record (published version) into institutional repository (PEARL) via Symplectic Elements

Quick Link: apply for APC funding if you are in receipt of a UKRI grant
Quick Link: check your funder's OA policy for Gold payment provision / options for Gold publishing as a non-funded author