University Libraries launches open-access repository
University of Colorado Boulder Libraries is celebrating the launch of the open access repository CU Scholar, housed online at scholar.colorado.edu. This new institutional repository will aggregate and disseminate the wealth of scholarly knowledge created under the auspices of the University of Colorado Boulder and its research units. CU Scholar welcomes materials of scholarly focus, including published journal articles, working papers, technical reports, multimedia content and datasets. CU Scholar will serve as an important destination for researchers across the globe.
“CU Scholar will highlight and expand access to the intellectual assets of the Boulder campus – in direct support of the chancellor’s goal to enhance and publicize the reputation of our faculty,” said James F. Williams, II, Dean of the University Libraries.
The tools built into CU Scholar improve the speed and efficiency of sharing the results of scholarly efforts beyond the confines of the Boulder campus. For participating scholars, departments, centers and research institutes, increasing accessibility to research and publications is greatly streamlined. The submission, processing and dissemination of scholarship are managed through a simple Web interface that integrates the campus IdentiKey login system, removing the need to create additional login accounts and passwords. Submissions are vetted for conformance to CU Scholar policies and then released online. Posted submissions receive a permanent, shareable URL that helps researchers leverage the Internet and social media to further increase the reach of their scholarship.
In addition to simplifying the depositing of papers CU Scholar allows readers, at no charge, to discover and view relevant research by topic, author or sponsoring research department with the repository’s straightforward organization and search tools. The system also allows users to sign up for a service alerting them to new content tailored to their unique interests.
University Libraries presents CU Scholar as the first stop for papers from the University of Colorado Boulder. The repository represents the continuing commitment of the University Libraries to support open access to academic research and further supports the academic mission of the University of Colorado Boulder. CU Scholar follows in a line of such commitments from the Libraries, including the Libraries-supported open access publishing fund and the annual celebration of Open Access Week, taking place this year Oct. 20-26.
University Libraries expects the CU Scholar collection to grow quickly in size and diversity, with the addition of content from all disciplines represented at the University of Colorado Boulder campus.