COAR Newsletter

Use the link above to access the first COAR [Confederation of Open Access Repositories] Newsletter written in March 2011. The newsletter opened with a welcome to new members and groups from Hungary, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, and France. Updates for each working group were also provided. Working Group 1: Repository Content focused on some of the barriers to “populating repositories... [including] lack of times and incentives to deposit, lack of awareness of funding agencies and university policies, and confusion about publisher self-archiving policies. to remedy this situation the working group developed and disseminated a list of best practice recommendations. Working Group 2: Repository Interoperability was in the initial stages of “developing joint COAR Guidelines.” Working Group 3: Repository and Repository Networks Support and Training “compiled a list of recommended training materials on operational issues required to install implement, and deploy open repositories... created a list of national and regional information portals and support networks for repository managers in over 40 countries and regions.... highlighted a list of best practice case studies related to managing open access repositories...” COAR also planned to launch a mentoring program for repository managers and to provide a “series of online workshops to foster the exchange of ideas and expertise, and to share experiences and best practices within the repository community.” The newsletter also updated everyone on regional activities in Latin America, Asia, and Europe and included information about conferences, declarations and policies, studies, and new programs. COAR reported on the organization’s efforts to promote the confederation at conferences, through its website, and by developing international cooperation and collaboration with SPARC. The newsletter closed with an announcement of its upcoming annual meeting at the end of March 2011.