JISC

Susan Ashworth (March 2011)

A paper discussing the University of Glasgow’s implementation of an open access ethos and strategy.

This paper states that the library at the University of Glasgow didn’t simply want to set up an institutional repository, they wanted that repository to be embedded within the wider university research environment.

The author highlights several benefits from this policy:

• Publications deposited in the repository get more hits and appear higher in Google searches than those on static web pages
• The publications database is comprehensive from 2001, which makes it easy for university managers to analyse the university’s research profile, and which helps present it publicly
• It helps with compliance with funders’ open access requirements
• It provides an easy way of finding information about publications for the Research Excellence Framework

The policy is backed up by a mandate requiring staff to deposit metadata and full text versions of their research outputs into the repository. This mandate is given practical backing by repository staff in the library who check copyright agreements for researchers (and can also deposit on their behalf).

There follows a section on Google Metrics, noting among other things, that in 2009/10 there was a 94% increase in visits to the repository.

Next, there is a description of Enrich and Enquire, two JISC-funded projects aiming to develop the embedding work further. Following on from this work, it is now possible, for instance, to look up Glasgow authors and see a list of their publications at a glance. A link has also been made between the repository and the university research system that enables funding information to be viewed alongside the relevant outputs - and so provides an easy way to show funders that their open access requirements are being met.

The paper also notes that library staff members have started using the University of Southampton’s EPrints software add-on to help their staff record and grade their top four outputs in preparation for the Research Excellence Framework.

It concludes by saying Glasgow offers a model that supports research dissemination, use, and reputation and has drawn together university functions in a “mutually enhancing set of academic services.”

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