About the Natural History Museum’s repository
What is the repository?
The repository provides access to the research output of the Museum’s scientists.
What is in the repository?
It’s possible to make a wide range of types of scholarly communication available in the repository; from more traditional forms; journal articles and book chapters through to blogs and multimedia items.
All content is made available according to publishers policies on author self-archiving and open access. You can find out more by visiting the RoMEO website. Depending on the publisher’s policies you may find the submitted, accepted or published version of a journal article, but it will always be closely associated with the original reference and where available include a persistent link to the published article at the publisher’s website.
Who manages the repository?
The Museum’s Library and Archives manage the repository. Contact us.
What can I do with items in the repository?
Anyone can access items available in the repository. Full text publications in the repository are covered by copyright law and unless otherwise stated can only be used for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profit purposes. Items must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Additional information may be available in the DESCRIPTION of each record.
Nothing in these terms is intended to reduce, limit, or restrict any uses free from copyright or rights/defences arising from limitations or exceptions that are provided for in connection with the copyright protection under copyright law or other applicable laws; for example where the copying in the UK falls under the provisions of Chapter III of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 ‘Acts permitted in relation to copyright works’. Guidance on what is permitted under these provisions is available from the UK Intellectual Property Office and CILIP.
Metadata Policy for information describing items in the repository
1. Anyone may access the metadata free of charge.
2. No metadata re-use policy defined. Assume no rights at all have been granted.
Data Policy for full-text and other full data items
1. Anyone may access full items free of charge.
2. All full items are individually tagged with differing rights permissions and conditions.
Content Policy for types of document & data set held
1. This is an institutional or departmental repository.
2. Natural History Museum holds all types of materials.
3. Deposited items may include:
(a) working drafts
(b) submitted versions (as sent to journals for peer-review)
(c) accepted versions (author's final peer-reviewed drafts)
(d) published versions (publisher-created files)
4. Items are individually tagged with:
(a) their version type and date.
(b) their peer-review status.
(c) their publication status.
5. Principal Languages: English
Submission Policy concerning depositors, quality & copyright
1. Items may only be deposited by accredited members of the institution
2. The administrator only vets items for the eligibility of authors/depositors, and valid layout & format
3. The validity and authenticity of the content of submissions is not checked.
4. Items can be deposited at any time, but will not be made publicly visible until any publishers' or funders' embargo period has expired.
5. If Natural History Museum receives proof of copyright violation, the relevant item will be removed immediately.
Preservation Policy
1. No retention period defined.
2. Natural History Museum will try to ensure continued readability and accessibility.
3. Natural History Museum regularly backs up its files according to current best practice.
4. Items may be removed at the request of the author/copyright holder.
5. Acceptable reasons for withdrawal include:
(a) Journal publishers' rules
(b) Proven copyright violation or plagiarism
(c) Legal requirements and proven violations
(d) National Security
(e) Falsified research
6. Withdrawn items are not deleted per se, but are removed from public view.
7. Withdrawn items' identifiers/URLs are retained indefinitely.
8. The metadata of withdrawn items will not be searchable.
9. If necessary, an updated version may be deposited.
10. No closure policy defined.
Take down policy
Every effort has been made to ensure that content in The Natural History Museum repository does not infringe any person's rights, or applicable UK laws. If you are concerned that you have found material on our website, for which you have not given permission please contact us in writing stating the following:
1. Your contact details.
2. The full details of the material.
3. The exact and full url where you found the material.
4. If the request relates to copyright, provide proof that you are the rights holder and a statement that, under penalty of perjury, you are the rights holder or are an authorised representative.
5. The reason for your request including but not limited to copyright law, privacy laws, data protection, obscenity, defamation etc.
On receipt of your notice, staff will:
1. Make an initial assessment of its validity
2. Acknowledge receipt of the complaint by email
3. For all but spurious complaints, suspend access to the item that is subject to complaint
4. Refer the complaint to the Museum’s Legal Advisor for comment and advice
5. Seek to verify your identity and authority as complainant.
When the Repository Manager has verified the authenticity of your complaint and has been advised that it is ostensibly legitimate, the file will be removed from public access, leaving behind the bibliographic record describing the record.
If the Legal Advisor confirms that it does not breach any law then the item will be reinstated.
Contact:
Lisa Cardy, Head of Researcher Services and Digital Delivery
Library and Archives, Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD