About Self Archiving Your Research

To enjoy the many benefits of your library’s digital repository, simply deposit a copy of your published manuscripts (and supporting materials, if you like) in a digital repository. If your work has been published with a publisher, check with your publisher to be sure you have the right to post it.

Copyright restrictions may impact whether you can deposit a published article into a digital repository. While the majority of publishers will allow you to deposit, there are differences among publisher policies:

• In some cases, the publisher’s final formatted version may be deposited;
  

• In others, it may be the author’s final manuscript (before publisher editing);
  
• Some allow deposit only after a given time limit (usually between six to 12 months).

The SHERPA project provides a searchable database of publisher policies regarding depositing in repositories. Library staff can also help.

When you publish, keep in mind that you can retain key rights to ensure the broadest possible exposure and use of your work. If you simply sign the “standard” publishing agreement for your publisher, you may lose the right to use or distribute your work the way you wish. 

The text of this page is extracted from the "Greater Reach for Your Research" pamphlet, published by CARL and SPARC.