The need for institutional policies mandating self-archiving has been a frequent topic on this forum.
At Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia, this advice was taken on board during the planning stage for our eprint repository, QUT ePrints which was launched a few week ago (see: http://eprints.qut.edu.au ). Tom Cochrane, QUT's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) developed a suitable policy proposal and took it through the University's committee system. The senior research community at the university is well versed in the cost and access issues, and this helped the DVC to present the issue persuasively. Consequently, when the Academic Board of the University endorsed an eprint policy for QUT (effective from January 2004) it was on the recommendation of Research and Development Committee. (see: http://www.qut.edu.au/admin/mopp/F/F_01_03.html ) The policy was developed in consultation with the major stakeholders so that the University as a whole would own the policy. We now have a clear institutional mandate for self-archiving which will be backed up with plenty of promotion, training and support. As the QUT Eprint Archive Project Officer, I am currently investigating how the annual collection of QUT research output data (required for mandatory Government reporting) could be used to assist with populating the archive, or vice versa. I am keen to hear from peers at other institutions who may be doing something similar. QUT ePrints is still in its infancy and most of our researchers have yet to return from vacation. However, the documents are starting to trickle in already so I am very optimistic. Regards Paula Callan - ************************************************************** Paula Callan BA (UQ), GradDipLib&InfoSys (QUT), GCEd (Higher) (QUT) E-print Archive Project Officer / Liaison Librarian Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia CRICOS No. 00213J Email: [email protected] Ph: (07) 3864 4670 (Mon-Wed) (07) 3864 3795 (Thu-Fri) http://eprints.qut.edu.au *************************************************************** "You see, I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians." Monty Python's Flying Circus
