Author Guidelines for DigitalCommons@SHU

Who can submit content to the DigitalCommons@SHU?

Individuals affiliated with any Sacred Heart University college, department, lab, center, institute or other campus unit can contribute content. Each of these communities may have their own criteria for submission and all submissions must be cleared to be included.

What materials can be contributed?

Individuals affiliated with any Sacred Heart University college, department, lab, center, institute or other campus unit can contribute content. Each of these communities may have their own criteria for submission and all submissions must be cleared to be included.

The work should be scholarly in nature. Because deposits are intended to be permanent contributions to the repository, works that are in progress or ephemeral in nature are not recommended for contribution.

Examples of Eligible Materials:

  • Journal articles and essays
  • Conference proceedings, papers and/or presentations
  • White papers, technical reports and campus publications
  • Research reports from grant-funded projects with Open Access requirements

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What file formats are acceptable?

Although most digital formats can be uploaded to DigitalCommons@SHU. Files will typically be converted to searchable PDF by the Digital Scholarship system. If your work exists only in print format, the library will assist you. See below for contact information.

The library will make our best efforts to maintain the content, structure and functionality of work you deposit.

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What rights do I grant the University when I deposit my work in the DigitalCommons@SHU?

Individual authors retain their copyright, but are asked to complete a Deposit and Access Agreement for materials deposited.

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My work has been published in a journal. Can I still deposit my work?

Authors that have signed over their copyright to publishers, are required to contact publishers in order to obtain permission. Requests for commercial use of materials found in the DigitalCommons@SHU will be referred back to the author.

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What do I have to do to deposit my work?

For Sacred Heart University faculty and administrators, the first step is to contact Deana Santoro-Dillon, Digitization and Scholarly Publications Manager ().

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I don't have time to digitize or locate all my publications. Can the library to deposit my work on my behalf?

Yes. The Sacred Heart University Library can assist with locating, digitizing, and depositing your materials. You are required to provide copyright clearance if you are not the copyright holder.

A signed Deposit and Access Agreement is required along with your publication.

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Can I self-submit my work?

At this time, self-submission is not an option.

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Can I withdraw a deposit?

This service is designed to provide long-term, persistent access to deposited items. However, a situation may arise requiring the removal of an item. When this becomes necessary, contact the DigitalCommons@SHU staff and together we will determine the best course of action.

The University Librarian or designee may withdraw an item either temporarily or permanently whenever issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism, falsification of data, invasion of privacy, or libel arise. Files will not be removed however, without the author being informed.

Updated versions of content may be posted, and can be linked to the first posted version. Earlier versions may be removed, but authors are encouraged to maintain earlier versions in the repository, as a record of the development of posted content.

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Can I withdraw a deposit?

DigitalCommons@SHU makes faculty scholarship available in one central place online, enabling greater access to colleagues, students and new audiences. Because every item is assigned a unique, persistent URL, users can cite faculty work freely without worry or inconvenience of broken links. Studies have shown that articles are cited earlier and more often if they are made available in an open-access repository like the DigitalCommons@SHU. Integrated features including RSS feeds and "Tell a colleague" email notifications allow users to easily share work with others.

The University Library is also responsible for providing metadata for each item deposited. The metadata makes the item reachable by the Google, and other search engines, and therefore more accessible to other scholars.

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What are the benefits of contributing my work?

Research has demonstrated that with appropriate search mechanisms added, open access online articles have appreciably higher citation rates than traditionally published articles. This type of visibility and awareness benefits both you as the creator and Sacred Heart University as an institution.

Specific benefits include:

  • Visibility of your work in a centralized location means more of your peers can find and cite your work (via searches in Google Scholar and other federated search engines), providing you with a wider audience.
  • Inclusion of your work in the full range of scholarship practiced at Sacred Heart provides you with institutional recognition.
  • Retain control of intellectual property rights to your work by granting a non-exclusive license to the DigitalCommons@SHU.
  • Context for your work, placing you side-by-side with the scholarly and creative contributions of your colleagues.
  • Create a digital archive of more of your work, including CVs and previously unpublished work, such as conference presentations and white papers.
  • Continuity so that your work is assured a stable online location that can be cited now and in the future.
  • Complements existing print and electronic sources in your field.

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Who can I contact for questions and assistance?

The Sacred Heart University Library can assist with any additional questions that are not answered here or in the FAQ. To learn more about the DigitalCommons@SHU, contact Deana Santoro-Dillon, Digitization and Scholarly Publications Manager at .

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