Re: Why Cornell's Institutional Repository Is Near-Empty

From: Stevan Harnad <harnad_at_ecs.soton.ac.uk>
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:31:18 +0000

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007, Charles Oppenheim wrote:

> Just because the desirability of OA combined with clear evidence of its
> usefulness is obvious to some people does not mean everyone will "get
> it", and merely repeating the message over and over again irritates
> rather than informs. A lateral approach is needed, rather than
> constantly battering away in the same direction. I, like David, have no
> particular ideas on this, but I do feel a different angle is now needed.

I am ready to adopt a different angle as soon as someone gives an idea of which.

Meanwhile, would you describe the following as merely repeating the same message
over and over?

1. Proposing self-archiving (1994)
2. Creating CogPrints (1999)
3. Creating AmSci Forum (1998)
4. Applying OAI to create first IR software (Eprints) (2000) (Brody)
5. Co-draft BOAI (2001) (Peter Suber did lion's share)
6. Self-Archiving FAQ (answered 34 prima facie worries) (2001)
7. Oppenheim/Harnad preprint/corrigenda strategy (2001)
8. Promote Green journal policy (Romeo) (2003) (Oppenheim, Hubbard)
9. Provide evidence of OA citation advantage (Brody, Carr, Hajjem)
10. Show how easy it is ("Keystroke Economy") (Carr)
11. Promote librarian help in depositing (Carr, EPrints handbook)
12. Promote institutional/funder Green OA policy
13. Promote institutional/funder Green OA mandate
14: citation impact-measuring search engine, Citebase (Brody)
15: ROAR, Registry of Open Access Repositories (Brody)
16: ROARMAP, the Registry of Open Access Repository Material Archiving Policies (2004)
17: Optimise Green OA policies to eliminate loopholes (2005)
18: Archivangelism Blog
19: Design ID/OA policy to moot copyright constraints (2006)
20: EMAIL EPRINT Button for Closed Access (Miles-Board, Carr, Rodrigues)
21: EU and US Petitions for Green OA Mandate (Prosser, Swan, Friend) (2007)

The message is not just being repeated, it is constantly being adapted
and upgraded (with the help of allies) with tools and resources to meet
contingencies (and overcome obstacles) as they arise.

Rote repetition is no doubt irritating to the converted, and for that I
sincerely apologise, but the successive iterations, upgrades and updates
are intended for those for whom it is not repetition, but news, heard
(or listened to) for the first time.

Stevan Harnad
Received on Tue Mar 20 2007 - 13:58:34 GMT