Open Access : Support, Advocacy, Participation

Focus article on Open Access (Mar 6, 2009)

The NIH Public Access Policy has made it essential that Harvard researchers become aware of tools and resources that can help inform decisions that need to be made during the publishing process, and permit compliance with this important mandate.

Below you will find links to resources which further explain Open Access and the NIH Public Access Policy. There is also a listing of resources that can assist authors in areas of copyright transfer agreements, and generating an "Author's Copyright Addendum" to insure authors retain specific rights to their manuscripts.

The Countway Library will assist HMS and HSPH researchers with manuscript submissions to PubMed Central. Use the online HMScholar Manuscript Submission Form to submit your manuscript. Your manuscript will be deposited in PubMed Central as well as in our local online collection entitled HMScholar: Public Access Research Literature.

Please contact P. Scott Lapinski if you have additional questions regarding the NIH Public Access Policy, Open Access publishing options, or submitting your manuscript into a repository.

Publishing & Copyright

Open Access begins with an understanding what authors are permitted to do with their peer-reviewed articles. If the journal itself is not an Open Access publisher, obtaining Open Access for an article is still possible by following the correct steps within the Copyright Transfer Agreement / Addendum  process. 

By default, many journals may not allow the author to share the work in it's final published form without obtaining the specific right to do so. For example, copying the final published PDF version of  your own article from a journal, and sharing that PDF with colleagues via a personal web page or email attachment could be a direct violation of copyright. The links below will help to further explain these issues and offer Copyright Transfer Agreement Addendum tools.
 
Some publishers will work with authors to allow for the manuscript to be archived within a Digital Repository. Sometimes this right includes making the published version of the article available to the public after an embargo period [1 year is common]. Other publishers will allow authors to place their “Peer-Reviewed Manuscript” within a repository or institutional web page instantly.

Consult the links below for further information:

Harvard Medical School NIH Public Access support and addendum tool
SPARC Author Rights information
Author's Copyright Agreement Addendum tools (Science Commons)

NIH Public Access Policy & PubMed Central (PMC) Manuscript Submission

We regularly offer classes and Brownbag seminars on Publishing, Copyright, and the NIH Public Access Policy.

During the Fall Semester 2009, the Countway Library will be offering  lunchtime seminars on "Publishing, Copyright & The NIH Public Access Policy". In these classes we discuss the NIH Public Access Policy, PubMed Central, and useful online tools which will help streamline the process of copyright retention and discovering publishers' copyright transfer policies.

Publishing, Copyright and the NIH Public Access Policy   While reviewing PubMed Central and understanding definitions of "Open Access", this class will focus on tools and options which authors should consider when submitting their research for publication. Reviewing author/publisher copyright transfer agreements, applying a copyright addendum and complying with mandates such as the NIH Public Access Policy will also be discussed. - Duration: 1 hours

Upon request, we are also happy to schedule information sessions directly with individual departments throughout Harvard University and the Affiliated Hospitals. Within these sessions, we provide an overview of the key areas within the NIH Public Access Policy, and demonstrate the steps involved during the PubMed Central Manuscript submission process. Please contact P. Scott Lapinski to schedule an information session.

NIH Public Access Policy FAQ

Many common questions and answers are available at the NIH Public Access Policy FAQ .

Open Access News & Information

Recent articles and online discussion

OPEN DOORS AND OPEN MINDS: What faculty authors can do to ensure open access to their work through their institution - A SPARC/Science Commons white paper (Released April 2008)

Peter Suber's Open Access News

Publisher's statements on NIH Public Access Compliance