[Irtalk] UWC's OA Mandate

Wed Nov 19 09:28:48 SAST 2014

Hi Allison,
Thanks for clarifying that.  We tend to use the word “manuscript” or “postprint” version, but author final version is fine as long as it is clear to all academics.
The problem is that publishers’ policies override mandates. Should institutions’ policies be overridden by publishers?  The problem is if one doesn’t abide by the publishers’ rules, they may not publish the works. However, if enough institutions put their feet down and made an issue about this, perhaps we could change things in favour of authors and not publishers. In most SA institutions, the IP belongs to the institutions so they would have more ‘power’ in taking on this issue with publishers.  How many overseas institutions get around publisher restrictions is to provide a Request Button so individuals can still get access to works which are not yet OA (i.e.before the embargo periods expire). QUT, Brisbane and University of Liege in Belgium are two examples.
Regards
Denise

From: Allison Fullard [mailto:afullard at uwc.ac.za]
Sent: 19 November 2014 09:15 AM
To: irtalk at lists.lib.sun.ac.za; Denise Nicholson
Cc: Pateka Matshaya
Subject: RE: [Irtalk] UWC's OA Mandate

Hi Denise
Thanks for your comment and queries.

The policy document refers to "author final version" which we understand is the equivalent of the author postprint.  In presenting the policy at Senate, the DVC specified this.  Since the draft policy did go to the faculties for discussion two or three times, I think there is general clarity about this.  On hindsight, I agree that this term might have been usefully included in the definitions section at point 3 to avoid any potential ambiguity.
Likewise, point 4c in the Legal Addendum refers to "an author version".  I do see that this doesn't specify closely enough to publishers precisely WHICH version this is.  I don't think we were intentionally meaning to be vague.  This fogginess might actually work in our favour..... It's likely that these issues will be resolved "in the wash"!

With regard to the embargo clause, the policy and addendum make clear that the default is that all items will be deposited at time of acceptance.  The onus is on publishers to make written request for an embargo of maximum 12 months.

Like I said: the proof is in the pudding.  I'll certainly approach this group for advice on thorny issues as they arise!  Not least the Elsevier specification that prevents authors from depositing where there are mandates in place.  How do other institutions deal with this one?

Regards
Allison

>>> Denise Nicholson <Denise.Nicholson at wits.ac.za<mailto:Denise.Nicholson at wits.ac.za>> 2014/11/19 08:48 AM >>>
Hi Allison,
Well done – good news.
Just two queries:  The policy requires researchers to deposit their FINAL version into the Repository.  How have you got around the publishers’ policies where they only allow a postprint version?
Why was the 12 month embargo period adopted?

Thanks
Denise

From: Allison Fullard [mailto:afullard at uwc.ac.za]
Sent: 18 November 2014 02:36 PM
To: irtalk at lists.lib.sun.ac.za<mailto:irtalk at lists.lib.sun.ac.za>
Cc: Pateka Matshaya
Subject: [Irtalk] UWC's OA Mandate

Dear Colleagues
I'm very pleased to advise that UWC Senate has approved an OA Policy.  It will be passed by Council at towards the end of the month.

The language of the policy is fairly strong and is backed up with a legal Addendum (thanks for input from Wits, Denise!).  On the downside, publishers are able to request a 12 month embargo before full texts are made available.

From the attached policy:
"The UWC Addendum to Publication Agreement (Annexure 1), that gives effect to this commitment on the part of the university, must be completed by all first author researchers upon acceptance of their article for publication and serves as the written notice of the agreement by the publisher".

"Upon acceptance of a scholarly research output for publication, a UWC researcher is required to register with the Research Repository and deposit an author final version of the research output into the Repository."

Clearly, implementation will not be straight forward.  Nevertheless, we've been pushing the message fairly consistently for 4-5 years now, so I"m hoping that this policy can help self-archiving to become internalised on our campus.

It will be registered at RoarMap too.

This is another step forward for us in SA!

Regards
Allison

Allison Fullard
Deputy Director: Library Services
University of the Western Cape
Ph:  27-(0)21 959-2923
Fax:  27-(0)21 959-2659

Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535
South Africa
http://lib.uwc.ac.za<http://lib.uwc.ac.za/>
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