Open access communications
This page includes copies of communications sent out concerning open access:
- Email 5
sent on 29th July to all researchers and research development managers. - Email 4
sent on 12th April to School Research Directors for dissemination to all to academics and researchers in the Schools. - Email 3
sent on 5th March to Faculty Research Directors and Departmental Library Reps and Project Board re: HEFCE consultation - Email 2
sent on 1st March to Faculty Research Directors and Departmental Library Reps and Project Board, to disseminate or circulate as appropriate. - Email 1
sent on 30th January to Deans, Faculty Research Directors, Faculty Managers, Heads of School, School Research Directors and Project Board.
Email 5 - sent on 29th July
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Dear Colleague,
This message is to publicise funding allocated to Bristol by the UK Research Councils to help meet the publisher costs associated with achieving Open Access to peer-reviewed research publications.
Open Access is about creating free, unrestricted online public access to the findings of publicly funded research. The funding from the Research Councils UK is available to those publishing research papers where the publication arises from partially or wholly Research Council funded research, either from a current or previous grant.
To access the fund, there is a simple online form <https://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/uobonly/rcukform.html> and supporting guidance <http://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/rcuk.html> available via the Library. For some publishers the University also has agreed pre-payment or discounts <http://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/publisher-schemes.html> which means less admin and a quicker result. It’s your choice where to publish – academic freedom is paramount - and you can use the Research Council fund for ‘Gold-only’ publishers, like Public Library of Science, as well as hybrid publishers, like Nature Publishing Group. Researchers are asked to first use up any existing funding for Open Access publisher fees (‘Article Processing Charges’) in their current grant, to help make the institutional funds go further. For advice, contact the Library on open-access@bristol.ac.uk.
Open Access to research is a growing movement supported by the UK Government and the UK Research Councils and the University supports Open Access to help achieve Bristol’s mission to be recognised globally for the quality of its research.
The Library’s Open Access webpages <http://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/open-access.html> provide a full description of Open Access and its benefits to individual researchers. This includes guidance on the different routes to Open Access (often referred to as ‘green’ and ‘gold’) available to all researchers. Dedicated advice for all researchers is available from open-access@bristol.ac.uk.
Professor Guy Orpen
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)
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Email 4 - sent on 12th April
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Dear all
This e-mail is being sent to School Research Directors for dissemination. We would be grateful if you can forward to all to academics and researchers in your Schools.
The transition to open access publication for refereed journal articles and conference papers for Research Councils UK funded research has now started.
RCUK have stated that the transition to open access is "a journey not an event". Support from Library Services is available to the University of Bristol research community.
A steering group (led by Guy Orpen, with academic representation from both Sciences and Arts) has been set up to guide the University's approach to the transition to open access publication.
This group has agreed some interim guidance:
1. Researchers continue to decide where to submit articles for publication as maintaining academic freedom is paramount.
2. When articles are accepted for publication, researchers should choose the 'Green route' if this is available.
3. If an article (funded by RCUK) is accepted in an open access only journal and an article processing charge (APC) is required, this will be funded from the University's grant (from either RCUK).
A series of communication and discussion meetings has been offered to each faculty.
The group will be developing an open access policy for the University. The route to this has started with discussions at Faculty Research Committees and other meetings with researchers. The policy will be developed through wide discussion and debate prior to the formal adoption by the University Research Committee, UPARC and Senate.
In consultation with academic staff and other researchers the group will oversee the development of the processes to minimise the effort required by researchers to achieve open access for their publications and these processes are expected to be in place by August 2013. The interim processes are already in place and can be found along with more information about open access, RCUK and other funder policy, how to publish open access, open access funds and how to claim APCs from the funds available, at the webpage below:
http://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/rcuk.html
Library Services are managing the processes and funds to make open access payments (article processing charges or APCs) to publishers on behalf of researchers and to assist with making publications open access via the green route.
If you require additional help or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact: open-access@bristol.ac.uk.
The existing arrangements for publications arising from the Wellcome Trust will continue.
RCUK have now updated their open access guidance and have provided a FAQ.
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/documents/RCUKOpenAccessPolicy.pdf
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/documents/OpenaccessFAQs.pdf
Kind regards,
Mike Wall and Guy Orpen
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Email 3 - sent on 5th March
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Dear colleagues
HEFCE have notified the University of their intention to consult formally on the role of open access publishing in the submission of outputs to the post-2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).
HEFCE would like some early input to help shape their consultation which will take place later in the year.
Guy Orpen has asked me to draft the University's response, and I would like to obtain your input.
The consultation letter can be found at the following webpage:
<http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/newsarchive/2013/name,78750,en.html>
The consultation asks for advice on six specific areas, and I would be grateful if you could provide me with your feedback in these areas by Thursday 14th March. HEFCE have clearly stated that this has no bearing on the 2014 REF.
If you have any questions that you would like to ask to help you consider your response, please don't hesitate to email me using the following address:
open-access@bristol.ac.uk
Many thanks
Mike
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Email 2 - sent on 1st March
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Dear Colleagues
This e-mail is being sent to Faculty Research Directors and Departmental Library Reps. to disseminate or circulate as appropriate.
From the 1st of April 2013 we commence the transition to publication by open access methods for Research Councils UK funded research outputs.
RCUK have stated that the transition to open access is "a journey not an event". Support from Library Services and RED will be available to the University of Bristol research community through this transitional phase.
From 1st April 2013 Library Services will manage the processes and funds and make Open Access payments (article processing charges or APCs) to publishers on behalf of researchers and assist with making publications open access via the green route.
Information about open access, RCUK and other funder policy, how to publish open access, open access funds and how to claim APCs from the funds available, can be found by following this link:
http://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/rcuk.html
If you require additional help or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact: open-access@bristol.ac.uk.
Christine Smart on behalf of Guy Orpen and Mike Wall
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Email 1 - sent on 30th January
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Dear Colleagues
RCUK has issued a policy, with effect from 1st April 2013, which signals that we should commence the transition to open access publishing for all articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals or conference proceedings and which arise from RCUK funded research.
Please be assured that the onus of compliance rests with the University rather than the individual, and that choice of publication remains with the author. We will therefore look to provide support from the centre (through Library Services and RED) to the research community through this transitional phase.
The University will receive funds from RCUK to manage the transition to publishing by Open Access methods. Full compliance is not expected immediately but in April we need to commence the process that will lead to compliance over the next five years.
From February 2013 Library Services will manage these funds and make Open Access payments to publishers (Article Processing Charges or APCs in the new jargon) on behalf of researchers. Details about how researchers will be able to make use of these funds will be communicated during February.
If you have any questions please send an email to:
open-access@bristol.ac.uk .
More information about Open Access publication and how it is presently supported at the University of Bristol can be found at:
https://www.bris.ac.uk/library/support/research/open-access.html
The RCUK policy can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/d4xosk8 or
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/documents/RCUK _Policy_on_Access_to_Research_Outputs.pdf
[UPDATE - The RCUK policy can now be accessed at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/Pages/outputs.aspx]
Kind regards
Mike Wall and Guy Orpen
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