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Research Exchange

This guide describes Research Exchange, the institutional repository for Washington State University, and its various uses.

How to Add Materials to Research Exchange

Once logged in to Research Exchange, any WSU researcher can add materials to the repository. These materials may include datasets, posters, slides, journal articles, or simply a link to the item on another website.

Note the following requirements when depositing to Research Exchange:

  • For full-text materials, the researcher should either own the copyright to the item or have permission from the copyright holder to share the item publicly. For assistance with this determination, contact WSU Libraries. 
  • For full-text items, observe document accessibility guidance outlined by Web Communications.

To add materials to Research Exchange, click on "add content" and select "output." Follow the steps outlined in the video below. Alternatively, contact libraries.research@wsu.edu for assistance.

How to Determine Whether an Item Can Be Deposited in Research Exchange

In order to deposit a file in Research Exchange—or any website—you will first need to determine that you are the copyright holder or that you have permission from the copyright holder.

Generally, if you have not yet published a work, then you and any co-authors are the copyright holder(s) and can choose to post online. As copyright holders, you have certain inherent rights that include the right to reproduce the work, the right to distribute it, prepare derivatives, perform the work, display it, or license those rights to others.

However, if you have published in a book or journal, your publisher may ask you to sign over some or all of the rights described above (the right to display your work, etc.). If you have transferred your copyright to a publisher, you will need to ensure that your publisher allows you to post your work. Here are a few ways to make this determination:

  • Consult your publishing agreement.
  • Check the Sherpa-RoMEO database to determine the publisher’s policy on “self-archiving” or use of institutional repositories like Research Exchange.
  • Consult the publisher’s website—especially any policies on self-archiving
  • Contact the publisher directly.
  • Contact WSU Libraries for assistance: libraries.research@wsu.edu

How to Interpret Publisher Requirements for Published Work

As you check your publisher’s policies, you may find that they allow you to post a version of an article or chapter called a pre-print, post-print, or accepted manuscript.

  • Pre-print: The is the version of the article before it goes through peer review.
  • Post-print or accepted manuscript: This is the version of the article after it goes through peer review but before final layout and copy-editing. The content in the post-print is nearly the same as in the final version but sans branding.

How to Use DOIs

DOIs or Digital Object Identifiers are an important strategy for ensuring that others can locate your research materials. If you deposit a dataset or other unpublished material in Research Exchange, WSU Libraries will provide you with a DOI at no cost. If you deposit a version of a published article (such as the accepted manuscript), WSU Libraries will add in a link or DOI pointing to the article on the publisher's website.

How to Ensure Accessibility of Research Materials

All documents and files deposited in Research Exchange should be accessible to anyone browsing online. This means that people using screen readers or assistive devices should be able to access and use the documents that you share. Please consult the Accessibility Guides provided by WSU Communications to ensure that your documents meet accessibility standards.

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