Scientific publishing and data management

Self-archiving of works in open repositories. In this model, the authors continue to publish in the traditional way in subscription-based or open journals, but at the same time store full texts in digital repositories. Open Access may be limited by the publisher’s licensing conditions.

If authors want to publish using the Green Open Access model, they must first find out the publisher’s conditions for self-archiving, either on the publisher’s website or using the Open policy finder. For example, the publisher may delay the release of an article (an embargo period) or determine which version of the article the author may publish.

To choose the right repository, the authors can use the OpenDOAR service. Authors for MU can also take advantage of the MU Repository.

Publishing in open access journals. This method of publishing is provided by the publisher of an open access peer-reviewed journal in which the authors can publish their articles.

The basic step in publishing using the Gold Open Access model is to choose a suitable journal. There are several types of open journals for authors to choose from:

• Diamond/Platinum journals – the entire journal content is available free of charge, the financial costs are covered by the publisher of the journal. These are often journals produced by scholarly communities or university publishers.
• Paid open access journals – the entire content of the journal is available to readers free of charge; publication fee (also called APC) that covers the costs associated with publishing and peer-review are paid by the author.
• Hybrid journals – concerns publication in closed journals that will make the selected article available in Open Access mode after the author has paid the publication fee.

When searching for a suitable journal, authors can use the DOAJ service or contact us.

An embargo is a time restriction on access to a scientific publication after its publication. During the embargo, the article is only available to subscribers to the journal.

• Zero embargo: The article is freely accessible immediately after publication.
• One year embargo: The article is only accessible to journal subscribers for one year and then authors can upload it to repository.

Public licenses are the easiest way to ensure that a published work meets all the conditions and characteristics of Open Access, such as immediate access and reuse. The most common public licenses are Creative Commons providing the authors with six different variants of CC licenses to choose from.

In addition to Creative Commons, there are other public licenses, such as GNU, Apache, MIT, and licenses from individual institutions. These licenses allow authors to define the terms of use for their works, thereby ensuring their wider availability. The choice of a suitable license depends on the specific requirements of the author and the type of work.

If authors decide to publish their article using the Gold Open Access model, the first step is to find an OA journal. To choose a suitable journal, they can use the DOAJ service. The service provides a list of open access peer-reviewed journals across all fields of science.

If the selected journal requires an APC (Article Processing Charge), a fee for publishing an article, you must secure a source for its payment. Authors from MU are eligible for discounts on APC fees from selected publishers, and the cost can also be included as part of a grant application.

It is important to find out the conditions of the journal publisher for self-archiving, i.e., whether Green Open Access method of publishing is allowed. Authors can find this information using the Open Policy Finder or on the publisher’s website. Depending on these conditions, you can choose the right repository for storing your article. The OpenDOAR service can help you choose the repository.

If the publisher does not allow self-archiving, do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact the publisher regarding the possibility of reducing or eliminating the embargo in accordance with the terms and conditions of the financial provider. If they are unwilling to accommodate you, please contact us.

If you are unsure which licenses are accepted for your project or where to find information about licenses from your chosen publisher, please contact us. If you need to comply with funder‘s conditions, we will need to know what the project scheme is and what conditions you have specified in your application. The appropriate license may also vary depending on the type of result.