How to make your publications Open Access with RUNE

This post was originally written by Eleanor Colla (2019), and has been modified to reflect changes in Open Access terminology and links.

There are many ways in which you can make your publications Open Access (OA). One option is to make the final published version (sometimes called the version of record) OA through the journal. But, did you know, you can also make an earlier version of your work OA in UNE’s institutional repository (RUNE)? This is called Repository-based (green) Open Access.

Why make your publications Open Access using RUNE?

Making your publications OA in the UNE repository, RUNE can help increase the citations and impact of your research. For example, you can publish in a high impact, well-known, discipline specific, but non-OA journal, while also making a free, earlier version of your publication available in RUNE. Providing an OA version of your publication may also be a pathway to compliance with funding body OA requirements. For example, the Australian Research Council (ARC) states that “Any Research Output arising from ARC Funded Research must be made Openly Accessible within a twelve (12) month period from the Publication Date.”[1] More information on the ARC’s Open Access policy.

Which manuscript version can be deposited and made Open Access in RUNE?

If the manuscript is not published OA (but rather, behind a paywall), in most cases, the author accepted manuscript version (sometimes called the post-peer review or post-print) can be made OA in RUNE. The author accepted manuscript has the reviewers’ comments incorporated, but has not yet been copy-edited and typeset by the publisher. Many publishers impose embargoes on author accepted manuscripts. Where an embargo applies, the author accepted manuscript will be made OA after the embargo expires.

If you have published your manuscript OA under a Creative Commons licence, you can include the final published version (version of record) in RUNE.

How can you make your publications OA at UNE?

To make your publications OA in RUNE:

1. Include either the author accepted manuscript (if published non-OA) or the final published version (if published OA) when you make a new submission to RUNE
2. If you have author accepted manuscripts for publications you have already submitted to RUNE, e-mail these to rune@une.edu.au and the team can add them to your existing records.

Who can I talk to about Repository-based Open Access?

To discuss Repository-based OA and how it can benefit your research, contact rune@une.edu.au.

[1] “ARC Open Access Policy,” Australian Research Council, last modified September 2021, https://www.arc.gov.au/policies-strategies/policy/arc-open-access-policy