Publishing Assistance

Want to publish, but don’t where?  We can help!  

The library has Journal Citation Reports that can assess the impact factors of various journals in the sciences.  We can help to research whether the journal is discoverable in a major research database like PubMed, Embase or etc.  Interested in Open Access or complying with NIH Public Access Policy?  We can help investigate whether a particular journal is Open Access and how a particular journal publisher complies with the NIH Public Access Policy.  Need help?  Contact us at reference@westernu.edu or call/chat us!

NIH Public Access Policy

Have an NIH Grant?  Did you know that if you have an NIH grant you have to comply with the NIH Public Access Policy?  The law states, “The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall require that all investigators funded by the NIH submit or have submitted for them to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication: Provided, That the NIH shall implement the public access policy in a manner consistent with copyright law.”

Benefits of the NIH Public Access Policy
•    makes freely available taxpayer-funded research;
•    advances science; and
•    improves health.

To help you learn and comply with the law, take a look at our research guide “NIH Public Access Policy” (link to guide at http://westernu.libguides.com/NIH_PAP.  This guide outlines the necessary four steps for compliance as well as incorporates frequently asked questions and other helpful resources to help you get familiar with the policy.  If you need help, do not hesitate to contact the librarians at reference@westernu.edu.