Qatar University Library Strengthens Functionality of its Institutional Repository Through Elsevier's ScienceDirect APIs

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Sep 28, 2016, 08:00 ET

DOHA, Qatar, September 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Improving Coverage and Discoverability of Published Research by Qatar University Authors

Qatar University Library and Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced their collaboration to maximize visibility, impact and dissemination of articles published by QU faculty and researchers.

Through Elsevier's ScienceDirect APIs, QUL's institutional repository (QSpace) now receives an automated feed of metadata, abstracts and embargo end date information for all articles published in Elsevier journals by Qatar University authors.

In addition, QSpace is the first institutional repository to use DSpace plug-ins which have been developed by Atmire. These plug-ins facilitate easy integration of ScienceDirect APIs within a repository.

"The project addresses several of our library needs, including more easily showcasing research published by our faculty and researchers, facilitating a simplified workflow for users and measuring readership statistics through consistency in use of article metadata," said Dr Imad Bachir, Library Director, Qatar University. "ScienceDirect APIs also facilitate our compliance with funding body policies by providing automatic updates of article embargo data in our repository."

"It's terrific that libraries and publishers are able to work together to expand discoverability of published research, and in ways that reduce duplication of cost and effort for both," said Dr Alicia Wise, Director of Access & Policy at Elsevier. "Qatar's international leadership is so welcome, and their use of the DSpace plug-ins demonstrates that any institutional repository running a recent version of DSpace can easily integrate with our ScienceDirect API services. We're very pleased to be a part of these strategic collaborations."

This is how QSpace IR works after implementation of ScienceDirect APIs:

Through an automated ingest, full-text articles by Qatar University researchers published in Elsevier journals and available on ScienceDirect are embedded within QSpace. Users of QSpace are linked to the best available version: the full-text article embedded in the institutional repository and/or a locally hosted manuscript, when available in the institutional repository.
Published versions of the ScienceDirect articles are embedded within QSpace, which means that usage is added to aggregated usage statistics of the articles, which is helpful for authors, Qatar University and Elsevier. It would not be possible to aggregate this usage different versions of the article existed across multiple platforms The embedded ScienceDirect articles are available in full text to all users of QSpace that have access to ScienceDirect, not only those affiliated with Qatar University. Users affiliated with institutions subscribing to ScienceDirect get access to the full text based on IP recognition. In instances where users are not affiliated with a subscribing institution, they see a first page preview of the article and full-text articles can be accessed via document delivery services (DDS).
Alongside article metadata, embargo end dates, indicating when an article can be made available to the public, are provided to facilitate funding body compliance.
Through this service, open access articles are available to all users of QSpace.

View an example article at QSpace.

Qatar University is preparing to roll out the integration for all ScienceDirect articles written by QU authors.

In the next phase, Qatar University and Elsevier will add an online reading version of accepted manuscripts within QSpace. This means that all QSpace users will be able to read full-text versions of articles. Users not affiliated with institutions subscribing to ScienceDirect will be able to view post-embargo accepted manuscripts.

About the University of Qatar

Qatar University is the national institution of higher education in Qatar. It provides high quality undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare competent graduates, destined to shape the future of Qatar. The university community has diverse and committed faculty who teach and conduct research, which addresses relevant local and regional challenges, advances knowledge, and contributes actively to the needs and aspirations of society. www.qu.edu.qa

About QSpace IR

The QU institutional repository is an online digital collection of scholarly output and academic activities. It aims to increase visibility of the original research and scholarly works of the QU community on a local and global level, capture the academic activities of QU, facilitate institutional academic achievement, and provide a permanent portal of access to resources for the QU community. It includes faculty publications, research materials, learning materials, images, audio and video outputs, book chapters, reports and associated data, theses and dissertations, and conference proceedings. qspace.qu.edu.qa

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of information solutions that enhance the performance of science, health, and technology professionals, empowering them to make better decisions, deliver better care, and sometimes make groundbreaking discoveries that advance the boundaries of knowledge and human progress. Elsevier provides web-based, digital solutions - among them ScienceDirect, Scopus, Research Intelligence and ClinicalKey - and publishes over 2,500 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and more than 35,000 book titles, including a number of iconic reference works. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com

Media contact
Shaikha Al-Kaabi
Director of Communications and Public Affairs Dept., Qatar University
+974 4403 5790
[email protected]

Elisa Nelissen
Press Officer, Elsevier
+31 20 485 2492
[email protected]