CIHR Proposes Optimal OA Self-Archiving Mandate

[Stevan Harnad <harnad@ecs.soton.ac.uk>]

          ** Apologies for Cross-Posting **
CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research] has proposed a 99.99%
optimal Self-Archiving Mandate: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/32326.html

         CIHR grant and award holders must:

         [1] [self]-archive [all]
             (1a) final peer-reviewed published articles or final
             peer-reviewed full-text manuscripts
             (1b) in an appropriate [OAI]-compliant digital
             archive, such as PubMed Central, or an institutional
             repository
             (1c) immediately upon publication.
             (1d) A publisher-imposed embargo on open accessibility of
             no more than 6 months is acceptable.

         [OR]

         [2] submit their manuscripts either
             (2a) to a journal that provides immediate open access to
             published articles (if a suitable journal exists),
             OR
             (2b) to a journal that allows authors to retain copyright
             and/or allows authors to archive journal publications in an
             open access archive within the six-month period following
             publication.

There is only one unnecessary and confusing clause in CIHR's 
policy: (2b). (2b) is redundant with [1]! (2b) says the author 
must publish in a journal that allows [1]. But that is already 
implicit in [1] -- it is not a sub-option of [2]. [1] is the 
requirement to self-archive immediately (and to set access as 
Open Access within 6 months). Alternative [2] is to publish in an 
Open Access journal. That covers all the alternatives! (2b) is 
completely redundant.

So (2b) should simple be dropped.

That's all, really. There are still a few things minor changes 
that would make the policy simpler, clearer, and more systematic 
and coherent. In order to encourage a uniform practice that will 
generalize and apply to all fields, whether or not funded by 
CIHR, it would be best if CIHR's uniform rule consisted of just 
these 5 components:

     I. must deposit final peer-reviewed manuscript (or published version)
     II. immediately upon publication
     III. in the author's own IR

     IV. access to deposit must be set as Open Access within 6 months

     V. where possible, publish in a suitable OA journal

This way, everything gets deposited immediately, and access is OA 
within 6 months. The IR should be the preferred default locus, 
from which PubMed Central or other archives can harvest, but 
direct deposit elsewhere can be allowed as an option if the 
researcher has no institutional IR yet.

cf: http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Temp/weaker-OApolicy.htm

(CIHR also requires making research data and materials for 
reasonable requests: Might as well recommend -- but not require 
-- that they are self-archived too, wherever possible!)

Bravo CIHR!

Stevan Harnad

On Wed, 11 Oct 2006, Geoffrey Hynes wrote:

> Please note that a public consultation has been launched to seek comments on
> CIHR's proposed Policy on Access to Research Outputs.
>
> CIHR wishes to consult widely and we would appreciate your assistance in
> bringing this initiative to the attention of other individuals and
> organizations.
>
> Details on this policy initiative and information on submitting comments can
> be found at the following web sites:
>
> English: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/32395.html
> <http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/32395.html>
>
> French: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/f/32395.html
> <http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/f/32395.html>
>
> Comments or questions on the draft policy should be sent by e-mail to
> access@cihr-irsc.gc.ca <mailto:access@cihr-irsc.gc.ca>  or by mail to the
> address below.
>
> Consultation on the Access to Research Outputs Policy
> Canadian Institutes of Health Research
> 160 Elgin Street, 9th Floor
> Address Locator 4809A
> Ottawa, ON, K1A 0W9
> Canada