Advocacy
UK Examples
University of Leicester - Blog Posts, Leaflets
International Examples
Embedding a repository successfully as part of the institution requires significant cultural change, including integration within workflows of deposition and operational procedures. Promotion is one of the most powerful tools to achieve this. For effective promotion it is best to adopt more than one approach, ensuring stakeholders hear about the service from as many different directions as possible. There is a need for bespoke adaptation to take account of each institution's particular social, political, strategic and operational environments.
It is of key importance to remember that promotion must be a sustained ongoing effort. This should be budgeted for accordingly, both in terms of financial and staff resources. While institutions have noted that it has been possible to speak and interact with all departments in a matter of months, do not underestimate the time it will take to embed the repository in an institution. New staff and priorities arise, and there will be a need to repeat much of the effort. It is advisable to make use of other staff (e.g. liaison librarians, departmental and research administrators) to spread the load. Equipped with the core message they should be able to keep the repository message firmly on the agenda.
Keep talking
Do not be afraid of repeating and reiterating. Find new contexts for and continually adapt your message. Ultimately the target being aimed for is to give institutional repositories the same weight as other academic activities and priorities (e.g. examinations and applying for grants). Linking promotion to evaluation activities within the institution can ensure a two way dialogue which signals a willingness to listen and respond to concerns or suggestions.
