The University of British Columbia (UBC) has announced the development of an institutional repository (IR). Called cIRcle (circle.ubc.ca), the online storehouse is designed to help store the vast array of UBC's research output. Currently in pilot mode, cIRcle will be officially launched in spring 2008.
Based on an open access model, cIRcle is a digital archive of the university's intellectual output including peer-reviewed research, teaching and learning materials, and administrative items. Embargoes may be placed on certain types of material depending on aspects such as publication dates and publisher permissions, but access for all has been made an underlying concept.
cIRcle contributors will not assign their copyright to the IR. Instead, they will give cIRcle a non-exclusive licence to make their work openly available. Authors retain the moral rights in their works, so they are required to be properly attributed and cited when used by others.
Two communities - the Faculty of Graduate Studies and UBC Library - have already begun to submit work to the site. A content recruitment group has been mandated to introduce cIRcle to other departments across the UBC campus.
