Post-print (AAM): What, why and how

What is a post-print (or AAM)

Post-print or AAM accepted manuscript version is the author's version of the article. Contact the corresponding author if you do not have it yourself.

The AAM/author version will be similar in content to the published version, but without the publisher's formatting, layout and design.

Why self-archive post-print (what’s in it for you?)

• You increase the chances of your research being read and utilised. Archiving technology ensures that full text and metadata are "harvested" by search engines, regardless of where the archive is located. The content of open archives, such as the Brage archives or university archives, is thus available to anyone with internet access.
• You help to ensure that MF's research work is collected and stored for the future. The institution's overall production can be used in "marketing" to funding bodies and potential students and employees. Institutions that have a lot of material available in their archives demonstrate a willingness to share knowledge and research results with the general public.

Why you cannot self-archive a published version

According to the Copyright Act, you as an author have the rights to distribute and use texts and other material you have produced. However, when you publish scientific texts in books or journals published by commercial publishers, many publishers require you to sign an agreement whereby you transfer the right to exclusive publication to the publisher.

Rights that are often signed over to the publisher include, for example, the right to reproduce, distribute and publicly display the article in any medium, and the right to authorise others to use your publication. (taken from https://www.openscience.no/hva-er-oa/sporsmal-og-svar)

How to self-archive

You can submit the post-print version in two ways: 1) either by uploading it directly to the MF Open institutional repository via Cristin, or 2) you can send it to us at forskningsbibliotek@mf.no and we will do it for you.

Option 1: Upload via Cristin

Go to the Cristin record for the article. At the bottom of the record you will find a button that allows you to upload files. By uploading via Cristin, all metadata is included in the digital repository, which is both labour-saving at the other end and ensures that the metadata remains the same in the repository.

Option 2: Send the AAM version to forskningsbibliotek@mf.no. If you have problems uploading via Cristin, you can use this procedure.

Remember: Does your article have a CC license? Then you can upload the final published version in Cristin. If not, upload the accepted version (AAM).

Check the journal's rights policy

You can check this on the journal's website. It may also be registered in the SHERPA/RoMEO database.

Questions and answers

Visit Questions and answers about open access on the website openscience.no.