What’s the start date?

Current REF guidance indicates that publications from 2008 to 2012 will be included in the next REF, and some funding bodies' mandates date back to the beginning of 2006. Therefore the University policy applies to publications from 2006 onwards, as well as to all future publications. The policy does not apply to publications published before 2006, but you are encouraged to deposit them. Please note that this date may change as arrangements for REF are confirmed in 2010.

To what types of publications does this policy apply?

Using the last RAE as a guideline, the policy applies to:

• peer reviewed final accepted versions of journal articles;
• books;
• book chapters;
• conference proceedings;
• encyclopedia entries;
• exhibition details plus associated media;
• performance details plus associated media.

Where a publication is not available electronically the details will be made available in LRA with links to catalogues and/or publishers sites where possible.

Ephemeral writings, commissioned articles and teaching materials such as lecture notes are not included in the policy.

The policy applies to co-authored publications as well as to single authored publications

What if I cannot make the research output available in LRA?

There will always be circumstances in which it is not possible to deposit, for example for commercial or confidentiality reasons, or copyright restrictions. Staff will not be expected to make publications available in contravention of UK copyright law. In these cases the research publication should be deposited in LRA, and there can either be a complete embargo or the details can appear without the full text until permission is given.

What about the agreement I have with my publisher?

The majority of major publishers already allow authors to deposit the 'author final version' of a publication in repositories like LRA. Details of publishers' approaches to open access can be found at the SHERPA/RoMEO site. The University encourages its staff to assert personal copyright over material submitted for publication. Where a publisher will not grant copyright, staff are encouraged to negotiate to retain the right, or be granted a licence by the publisher, for themselves and the University to use the academic publication for teaching, research and associated purposes without charge. Ask your Information Librarian for advice. (Who is my Information Librarian?)

My research funder requires that I deposit in a specific archive. What do I do?

Deposit in the specified archive, for example UK Pubmed Central, and inform the LRA. Library staff will make sure that links are made to the relevant repository from LRA, or harvest the full text from the repository if allowed. If you deposit in a subject specific open access archive, publish in an open access journal or pay to publish an open access article the same policy applies. There is no requirement for staff to deposit in more than one open access repository, but no restriction on doing so. More information on funder policies.

What about research data?

If data supporting a research publication is required by a funding body to be made open access LRA will try to include the data if technically possible.

If I leave the University, will my work be removed from LRA?

No, but you are free to add it to any repository at your new institution. You may also include work from previous employment if you wish.

What formats does the LRA support?

We will consider any file format, although we may wish to undertake file conversion if we feel the format is unlikely to last. Sustainability of access (digital preservation and curation) is at the heart of the LRA's long term goals. PDF format is the norm but we encourage the use of xml format to enable text mining.