Self-archiving means to deposit a digital document in a publicly accessible website, preferable an OAI compliant repository [1]. Self-archiving further refers to self-archiving of peer-reviewed research journal and conference articles, as well as thesis, books, and book chapters. Usually, authors deposit in their institutional repository or open archive with a goal of making their work visible, accessible, harvestable and usable.

Besides exposing and facilitating access to research online, self-archiving maximizes the visibility,usage and impact the research outputs.In the agricultural domain, CIARD conducted a study on researchers' attitude towards openness to research output.

Some aspects of Self-archiving

In order to understand the concept of self-archiving the following aspects are worth mentioning:

a) Pre-prints and Post-prints

In general, a pre-print is the version the author submits for peer-review. However, the pre-print definition has also been extended to mean the finished article, reviewed and amended, ready and accepted for publication - but separate from the version that is type-set or formatted by the publisher. Once the article has been reviewed and the author has made any corresponding revisions, it becomes the post-print version. For a detailed discussion of these terms kindly read [2] and [4], further items to consider include:

• articles deposited in a repository should be peer-reviewed articles.
• which version (either pre-print or post-print) is deposited in a repository depends much on the publisher’s policies. Read for example one publisher policy here, or check the directory of publisher policies here.
• Find here a selected list of publishers who have no restrictions to self-archiving.
• If you intend to publish,it is advised to check what your institutional policy says on pre-print or post print before signing any copyright clearance with any publisher. 

b) Three main places to self-archive

• In an institutional repository
• In a subject/central repository
• On a personal website

c) Self-archiving is not publication

In scholarly communication, articles meeting the quality standards of peer review, and thereafter accepted for publication by a peer-reviewed journal, counts as publication. Self-archiving therefore is not publication, but deposits of peer-reviewed articles in a repository.

What can stakeholders do to facilitate self-archiving?

References and further reading [This blog relied on the following references]

1. Suber Peter (2012) Open Access. MIT Press.
2. Self-archiving:the Green route to Open Access.
3. Self-archiving:Frequently asked Questions.
4. Preprints and Post Prints.