COAR is your one-stop-shop for good practices in repositories. Here you will find all the global standards and good practices you need to run a well-functioning and interoperable open access repository.
Apply these practices to ensure your repository is adhering to global standards
COAR Community Framework for Good Practices in Repositories presents a global, multidimensional framework for good practices in repositories that can be applied to different types of repositories (publication, institutional, data, etc.) and in different geographical and thematic contexts. The framework defines recommended good practices in the areas of discovery, access, reuse, integrity and authenticity, quality assurance, preservation, and sustainability in governance. The COAR Community Framework is reviewed and updated every 2-3 years by an international COAR Working Group. The current version was published in 2022 and will be reviewed and updated in 2025.
Provide this basic information about your repository on your website for users and the public
Common Descriptive Attributes for Repositories The “RDA Common Descriptive Attributes of Research Data Repositories” contains a list of 17 high-level attributes that describe a research data repository. Although these attributes were developed specifically for data repositories by a Research Data Alliance working group, they are also general enough to be applicable to all types of repositories. COAR recommends that repository managers provide information about each of these attributes for their repositories on their website so that users can find the best repository for their needs.
Follow these directions on how to manage non-English and multilingual content so it can be discovered internationally
COAR Recommendations for supporting multilingual and non-English content in repositories contains 15 recommendations for repositories to support multilingual and non-English content in repositories. The recommendations identify good practices for repository managers and repository software developers, and focus on the topics of metadata, multilingual keywords, user interfaces, formats, and licences that will improve the visibility, discovery and reuse of repository content in a variety of languages. The recommendations were developed and are maintained by the COAR Task Force on Supporting Multilingualism and non-English Content in Repositories.
Collecting preprints in your repository? Here’s how you can do it properly
Recommended Practices for Managing Preprints in Generalist and Institutional Repositories details 10 recommended practices for managing preprints in generalist and institutional repositories across three areas: linking, discovery, and editorial processes. Each practice is followed but a detailed explanation and concrete examples of how the practice is currently being implemented. While many of these practices are not currently in place at institutional and generalist repositories, the aim is to encourage repositories around the world to begin to apply them locally.
Recent News
- COAR Launches the International Repository Directory
- Action Plan for Open Repositories in Europe: IMPACT-REPO
- Ten Recommended Practices for Managing Preprints in Generalist and Institutional Repositories
- CCSD and COAR announce the launch of a preprint directory
- COAR Releases Community Framework for Good Practices in Repositories, Version 2
