Uploading your papers - which version can be used?

One of the features of the Repository is that you can make a copy of your journal papers openly available on the web (usually after an embargo period determined by your publisher - see our Open Access guide for more details). Indeed, this will be a requirement for journal papers to be eligible for the next Research Excellence Framework.

However, in many cases you will not be allowed to upload the file of your journal article created by the publisher - the copyright in that version rests with the publisher, and we will not be allowed to make it publicly available. In cases such as these, a PDF or Word file of your own Author Accepted Manuscript, also known as a post-print, should be uploaded. This is your own file, incorporating changes made after peer review, but not including any publisher formatting.

How can I quickly tell which version I can upload to the Repository?
You can keep this simple by following this guidance:

• If a fee has been paid to make the article openly accessible on the publisher's website, you can upload the publisher version.
• If a fee has not been paid to make the article openly accessible on the publisher's website, you should only upload your own Author Accepted Manuscript.

Although there will be occasional exceptions to the second point above, this is the easiest way to determine which version of your paper can be uploaded.

Remember you can always get further information, and contact the Scholarly Communications Librarian, via the Open Access Guide.

Updating the repository's look and feel - we want your feedback

As part of our continual efforts to improve user interaction, we have redesigned the front page and menus of the University of Liverpool Repository. The redesign is now available for testing and comment on the training server, which can be found at:

http://tept.liv.ac.uk

Please note that as this is a test server, it cannot be accessed outside of the university network. Off campus access can be gained by using Apps Anywhere

The main changes that have been made are:

• The login and user functions have been incorporated into the left hand menu. This should give a more unified experience, with all links to actions now incorporated into the same place on screen.
• Search has also been moved to the left hand side, making it always available.
• A few small UI and functionality tweaks at the back end in response to various issues raised

We always welcome feedback - we are especially interested in hearing any views about this new front end before we make it live in the coming days. Please add them as a comment to this post, or send them via email to the author.

The University Repository Request Copy Spam

Recently the University Repository was the victim of a spammer using its inbuilt functions to send spam to a number of members of staff the following is a short report on the incident

How did it happen?

The attackers performed a search for all repository items with a full text document. They then individually requested each file. The files that are

restricted (embargoed) bring up a page, which allows the corresponding author to be sent a message. They wrote a script that injected the spam into this page and sent it.

Who?

The requests were from domains such as dynamic.isp.telekom.rs  - basically a free IP service in Serbia that effectively masks the computer which could be in any part of the world 

What?

What have we put in place in response to this? In short, we have removed the function - you now need to log in to see restricted files . . .

As far as we can tell from analysing the usage of the repository, the function had vanishingly small legitimate use, so we are not planning on re-enabling it. Please let us know in the comments below if this function is something that you would find useful and we can examine ways of sanitising (ensuring in future no spam is allowed through the text field) the form.