Regardless of funder, there are ways to make the process of complying with federal public access to publications policy easier.
Keep a copy of the Author Accepted Manuscript on hand. These versions tend to be forgotten once proofs become available but hold onto a copy as it will make submitting to a funder’s repository easier and permissable under current federal use statutes.
Don’t assume your journal or publisher will submit your publication to your funder’s repository. Journals and publishers are not covered by federal public access policy requirements. Their assistance is voluntary. Check your journal’s Author Information section for more information on what they are willing to do, or contact the PAS.
Be aware of journal or publisher author agreements that may contradict federal policy. Some journals and publishers may ignore public access policy or attempt to undermine its requirements. Always check your author agreement to determine if there is a conflict. Contact Carrie Nelson with the UW-Madison Libraries Scholarly Communication office for assistance in dealing with author agreements that are confusing or conflict with award terms.
Submit the Author Accepted Manuscript to your funder’s public access repository on acceptance. Don’t wait for your journal or publisher to advise you of your manuscript’s official publication date. Submit now to avoid noncompliance later.