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Research

What is Open Access?

Open Access is making research publications freely available to all.

The Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications mandates open access to research articles funded by Canada's three major research agencies: NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR.

The policy stipulates that peer-reviewed journal articles produced from funded research must be made open access within 12 months of publication by either:

  • publication in an open access journal
  • archiving in a subject repository or institutional repository (CBU Scholar)

Why Open Access?

More people see your work! Did you know that open access articles are viewed and cited more than research behind paywalls?

Funder mandates: The Tri Agencies as well as several other large funders require that publications be made available to the public.

 

CBU Scholar is Cape Breton University’s Online Digital Repository

The database provides access to the scholarly publications and contributions of CBU faculty and students.

Repository Access:  cbu.ca/cbu-scholar

Want to Submit your work? Email your submissions along with a signed agreement form (below) to: library_ir@cbu.ca

Student Submission Form

Faculty Submission Form

How to Publish in an Open Access Journal

Directory of Open Access Journals: Maintains and curates an online directory of open access peer reviewed journals.

Check options with your journal of choice, often they will offer an Open Access  option, that requires a fee known as an Article Processing Charge that allows the publisher to make your work openly available, while still making a profit.

CBU Open Access Agreements for Authors

  • SAGE journals: CBU authors get unlimited free open access publishing in SAGE choice hybrid titles, and 40% discount on APC's for articles in SAGE's Gold Open Access journals. Contact openaccess@sagepub.com
  • Elsevier Science Direct: 20% discount on hybrid and Gold Open Access journals. Exclusions apply to Cell Press, Lancet, and some other society owned journals. See Elsevier APC title list
  • Taylor and Francis: 25% discount in T&F Open Select journals. An author can submit an article and choose the open access publishing option. When the APC is generated, authors can select their institution from the drop-down menu, and the discount will be automatically applied. The author can select a Creative Commons license to sign once they accept the quote. Visit Taylor & Francis' website for further details on the process.
  • American Chemical Society: $250 USD flat discount on APC's. Authors must identify their institutional affiliation in order to qualify for the discount.

Author rights and copyright

SHERPA/RoMEO: Publisher copyright and self-archiving information. This site allows you to check what your author rights are, if you can upload a version to an institutional repository or make your work available online.