Open access repositories come in two basic varieties:

• Institutional repositories (IRs) are generally library-run websites that enable authors to upload a version of their manuscripts for public “open access” display.  The primary aim of institutional repositories is to make the scholarly outputs of the university as widely available as possible and to ensure long-term preservation of these outputs.

• Subject-based repositories collect publications in a particular discipline or a range of disciplines, so that authors in a field can share and solicit feedback on their work from colleagues in that field.

Eagle Scholar will be the forthcoming institutional repository for the University of Mary Washington.  It will be available in January 2018.

Different types of materials can be submitted as long as three conditions are met:

• Copyright Compliance
• Contractual Permissions
• Availability of Materials

The author's contract grants the publisher either an exclusive or non-exclusive license to publish and distribute the author’s work. This contract also determines what the author retains can do with that work after after publication.  Additionally, always remember to save a working or completed copy of your work in print or digital format.  In the event that a publisher does not allow the use of their publisher copy, you might still be able to submit an author copy of your work.      

Versions of Publications:

Publishers generally will state which version they will allow to be published open access. The SHERPA/RoMEO website defines these as:

• Pre-print -- version produced before peer-review or publisher input.
• Post-print -- final draft produced post-refeering
• Publisher's version -- published online or in print and includes the publisher's fomatting