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Open Access at Aston: Green Open Access

Making outputs Open Access via the green route

Green open access refers to outputs made freely available, in perpetuity, via a repository. 

Green open access is the route you can use to make outputs published in traditional subscription journals open access without paying an article processing charge. This is the default route for open access for Aston University and upcoming REF exercises. Almost all journals allow authors to make their outputs available through green open access, and an increasing number of publishers are also allowing chapters and books to be made open access through this route as well. Please get in touch with us if you would like further information!

 

Authors make their outputs open access via the green route by depositing their accepted manuscript (the version after peer review, but prior to the journal copy-editing and formatting) into a repository. At Aston, the Open Research Team then check over the metadata and manuscript and add any missing information as well as any copyright statement required by the published. The OR Team also add the appropriate embargo period if one is required by the journal- there are many journals and publishers that do not require any embargo before a manuscript can be made open access. The manuscript is then made freely available in perpetuity to the public through Aston's repository, Aston Publications Explorer, either immediately or after the required embargo expires.  

 

As soon as your article has been accepted for publication, please log in to Pure and create a record for your publication (see these simple instructions).  Alternatively, you can email openaccess@aston.ac.uk with your publication details so that we can do this for you.

 

Green OA: what you need to do

Green Open Access

 

To be Green OA compliant you need to: 

  1. Log in to Pure and either import or create a new record for your publication. If you are creating a record, please ensure that the metadata includes the date of acceptance, article title, authors and journal name. The Open Research Team will check and enhance the metadata.
  2. Upload the accepted manuscript of the article. This must be done within three months of acceptance to be eligible for the next REF. The Open Research Team will add the relevant copyright information and embargo period (if required). 
  3. However, where possible, we recommend that you deposit both the metadata and full-text version of the article as soon as possible after acceptance.

 

To get started, login via the Pure image below!

 

Follow the instructions below on how to deposit your manuscript. If your publication record has already been validated by the Open Research Team it will be 'locked' for editing purposes.  Please contact openaccess@aston.ac.uk for advice if you need to edit your publication record and/or have the full-text article added.

Diamond Open Access

Diamond open access is a model of open access where a journal is completely open access, yet does not levy an article processing charge (APC). More than 70% of open access journals fall into this category. Diamond open access journals exist across the academic spectrum and reputable journals provide the same level of peer review and editorial oversight as traditional subscription or gold open access journals. 

DOAJ.org has a filter that can be used to find open access journals that do not charge article processing fees. These journals have all been checked and vetted according to DOAJ's strict guidelines. 

The Open Library of Humanities also publishes a number of diamond open access journals across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. 

Useful Tools for Authors

  • SHERPA-RoMEO presents a summary of permissions normally given as part of each publisher's copyright transfer agreement.
  • SHERPA-FACT is a tool to help researchers check if journals comply with their funder's requirements for Open Access to research.
  • Creative Commons licence information

Copyright and Your Intellectual Property Rights

Copyright Law will protect your rights in your own creative work and give credit for your research and innovations via attribution, see the Copyright and Intellectual Property LibGuide for detailed information.