UCD Library News

Monday, May 19, 2008

IREL-OPEN project is officially launched

The irel-open project, to build a repository at each Irish university plus a value-added national portal to showcase full text of Irish research, had its official launch Friday May 16th at the TCD Science Gallery. The keynote speech was from Frank Gannon of SFI and ther President of UCD was one of the guests.

The occasion also saw the launch of a new information and promotional leaflet on the project which will shortly be available for distribution.

University of Limerick repository is live!

The repository has just gone live and further project information can be viewed at
http://www.ul.ie/~library/ulir.htm

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Science Foundation Ireland proposes to establish and promote an Open Access policy

Science Foundation Ireland proposes to establish and promote an Open Access policy relating to the placement of research publications for SFI supported published research.

Responses invited by June 19th

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

How to use copyright wisely within scholarly communication

Today[May 7 2008], SURF is launching the English version of its website about copyright in higher education, especially for scholarly communcation: www.surf.nl/copyright-in-nl.

If an author transfers all of his rights exclusively to a publisher, this restricts the options for reusing the research results, for either teaching or research purposes. Doing so may also involve additional costs. Being more aware about copyright and using alternative licence models helps to optimise access to the publicly financed results of scientific and scholarly research and to reuse those results.

The website is aimed primarily at scientific and scholarly authors and tries to provide answers to such questions as:
Why do I need to concern myself with copyright matters?
Why is this important for me?
What does the law say?
What do I still need to arrange myself?

The website explains a number of basic rules, gives background information, and provides authors of scientific publications and doctoral theses with practical advice on how to deal with copyright matters. All of this makes copyright easier than many people think.

When an author publishes, he enters into relationships with the institution for which he works, with the publisher, and with other users of the publication. SURF’s new website provides information on the best way to regulate those relationships from the legal point of view for all the parties concerned, but particularly for the author.

Besides information for scientific or scholarly authors, the website also provides practical guidelines and background information for the other parties concerned: universities, publishers, and users.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

OPEN DOORS AND OPEN MINDS:What faculty authors can do to ensure open access...

A SPARC/SCIENCE-COMMONS White Paper which may be of interest.

Dublin Institute of Technology full text research repository is live

DIT repository has just gone live - take a look.

IRCSET adopts an OA mandate

Today the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) adopted its long-awaited OA mandate. From the policy:
...Where a research publication arises in whole or in part from IRCSET funded research..., the following policy will be adhered to with effect from 1st May 2008.....

1. This publication policy confirms the freedom of researchers to publish first wherever they feel is the most appropriate.

2. The effect of the policy is intended to increase the visibility of, and improve access to, the research funded by IRCSET and the State, where such research is intended to be published by the researcher(s) concerned.

3. The policy is based on recognised best practice. It is in keeping with the recommendations of the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) Policy in relation to scientific publication. It is also in keeping with the combined OECD Ministers’ Declaration entrusting the OECD to work towards commonly agreed Principles and Guidelines on Access to Research Data from Public Funding.

A summary of the IRCSET conditions can be found on Peter Suber's blog.
http://www.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/2008/05/ircset-adopts-oa-mandate.html
In essence a postprint of all research funded by IRCSET must be placed in a repository, preferably the UCD Institutional Repository, within 6 months of acceptance for publication.