What is Open Access?

Open Access (OA) is a publishing model that provides unrestricted online access to research output. Research publications and data are made freely, immediately and permanently available online for users. The author or creator retains copyright, but gives the user permission to read, download, copy, distribute, search in, or link to the text without compensation.

There are two routes to achieve Open Access:

1. Green: Self-archiving master theses, PhD theses, copies of peer-reviewed research articles, and other scientific material in open research archives.
2. Gold: Publishing research articles Open Access. This can either be through Open Access journals, or by choosing hybrid Open Access. Hybrid-publishing implies that one pays extra to make individual articles in traditional journals available Open Access. Books can also be published Open Access.

One of the most used definitions of Open Access can be found here: http://openaccess.mpg.de/286432/Berlin-Declaration

Read more about Open Access: http://www.phdontrack.net/share-and-publish/open-access/

Open Access services at the University of Bergen

The University of Bergen Library offers several services to make research publications from students and researchers affiliated to the institution available Open Access.

Bergen Open Research Archive (BORA)

Through the University's institutional repository, Bergen Open Research Archive (BORA), you can make available your master thesis, PhD thesis, copies of research articles, research data, and other types of research material. Research material can be made available in BORA by contacting us, or by uploading the full-text in CRIStin. Take contact with us if you have questions about copyright.

Funding to publish Open Access

It is possible to apply for economic funding to publish research publications Open Access through the University's fund for Open Access publishing. Corresponding authors from the University of Bergen can apply for funding.

Bergen Open Access Publishing (BOAP)

The University Library runs a service for Open Access journals, Bergen Open Access Publishing (BOAP). We can offer new and established journals and series hosting and technical support through the platform Open Journal Systems (OJS). The content must be published Open Access with a Creative Commons license.

Open Access policy at The University of Bergen

The University of Bergen’ policy for Open Access to research results was adopted at the University board meeting of 15.11.2012.

The University of Bergen’ policy for Open Access includes the following statements:

1.  The University asks all employees to make their research publications available Open Access as far as it’s possible, either through open research archives and/or through open publishing.
2.  Employees are encouraged to publish their scientific work with publishers that ensure Open Access, as far as such publishing does not conflict with academic freedom or the University’ goal to publish in reputable publishing channels.
   
3. Students are encouraged to make their master thesis available in BORA as long as this does not come in conflict with publishing the thesis.

The Open Access policy adopted by the University board can be found here (in Norwegian): http://www.uib.no/filearchive/2012-088.pdf

Contact us at:

bora@uib.no