Library helps in open publication, data management and using responsible metrics

The Library offers assistance and training to researchers in a wide range of areas, such as CC licensing, parallel publishing, creating ORCID identifier, checking APC discount rights, drafting data management plans and using DMPTuuli, interpreting research funders' terms for open science, choosing a reliable publication channel, using responsible publication metrics, storage in the UTUPub publication archive, and publishing doctoral dissertations in the University of Turku Annales series.  

Reforms to publication data collection 

The Library scans the University researchers' publications from international databases and stores them in the Research Information System on behalf of the researchers. Researchers should check their own publication data by the end of January each year and report missing data either by filling in this form or entering the data themselves to the system.  

The difficulty of using the Research Information System was highlighted in the Library's 2024 customer survey. System updates were made to facilitate the submitting of publication data: the publication forms were redesigned together with University's Digital Services and entry of publication data into the system using the DOI identifier was enabled. The development of the system and streamlining of processes will continue in 2025. 

Help with drafting a DMP 

The Library's information specialists will help you in planning your research data management. The data management plan (DMP) describes the collection, processing, description, storage, version management and long-term storage or disposal of the complete research data, as well as possible opening or sharing of data. The University is part of the DMP consortium, which is developing the national data management tool DMPTuuli and the expertise of University’s data management services staff. 

At the Library, we maintain the University's own data management plan templates in the DMPTuuli tool and offer general advice on drafting a DMP. In 2024, the Library also offered training on good practices in managing the research data lifecycle for both undergraduate students and researchers. Training provided to research groups covered data management both in general and according to the funding conditions the Research Council of Finland and Horizon Europe.  

In 2024, the Library revised and expanded the guide for lifecycle planning of research data to reflect the different stages of the research data lifecycle. The requirements of research funders for open science were compiled into a separate guide and a guide was produced to support the drafting of a data management plan for the Research Council of Finland. 

Library comments data management plans for the Research Council of Finland's funding applications 

In 2024, the Library commented on a total of 48 data management plans drafted by researchers at the University of Turku. The Library's information specialists are familiar with the data management requirements of the Research Council of Finland and the practices of the University of Turku and ensure that the data management plans follow good practices in research data management, are feasible at the University of Turku, and comply with the FAIR principles. If necessary, the researcher will be directed to the digital, legal or data protection services.  

The Library collaborates with several units at the University of Turku. Commenting on the data management plans for the winter call of the Research Council of Finland right before the summer holidays went as planned due to good co-operation despite the busy schedule. We also agreed on joint communication from the Project and Financial Services and the Library to the recipients of Research Council of Finland funding. Library experts can also comment on the data management plans attached to an ethical review, if necessary.  

Bachelor’s theses included in the UTUPub publication archive 

In 2024, the Annales Universitatis Turkuensis series of the University of Turku for doctoral dissertations included 193 publications, the majority of which were both printed and electronic. The number of publications in 2024 was the second highest in the history of the series. The record of 195 publications was made in 2023, the previous year. In collaboration with the Records Services, the publication agreement process was transferred to the case management system Asta, so that the publication agreement is created and archived electronically in the same system. 

In 2024, a large number of bachelor's theses from the University of Turku were incorporated into the UTUPub publication archive. In 2024, their share was 41% of the publication archive accumulation. After being checked by the Library, the bachelor's theses are transferred to the publication archive from the UTUKandi system, where students submit their work.  

Students can choose whether to publish their work openly online or in a restricted collection, accessible only from workstations in the University Library. In 2024, 60% of the published bachelor’s theses and 63% of master’s theses were openly accessible. Over 2.4 million downloads were made from the publication archive during 2024. 

Library staff were active in networks and developed their expertise 

Supporting researchers requires the Library to continuously develop its expertise in open science and publishing practices. The Library has held data training, explored open data sources, studied the use of artificial intelligence, and received training from the University's Legal Affairs on copyright and intellectual property rights. In addition, the staff participated in numerous national and international training courses, events and working groups. New perspectives were also gained through Erasmus visits.  

Looking to the future

In 2024, the Library piloted requesting parallel publication for those peer-reviewed publications where parallel publication was missing. The experiences were positive and, in the future, parallel publication will also be requested from researchers by email in addition to automated messages. In 2025, the Library will also be involved in designing a platform for the metadata collected from the University's research data, i.e. the so-called data catalogue.  

Departments and faculties can monitor publication data in real time using the University's new statistical platform Power BI. The Library's metrics services have been involved in collecting publication data and indicators for large research groups, such as the flagships. In a national collaboration, the Library will explore using open data sources in bibliometrics, which supports the University's Coara and Barcelona Declaration commitments.  

The UTUPub publication archive will have a version update in 2025 or 2026. The UTUPub content will be available during the update, but there may be a short interruption in uploads. The update is carried out in co-operation with the National Library of Finland, the Digital Services of the University of Turku, and the electronic thesis processes UtuGradu and UtuKandi. 

We continue our development work to improve our services in assessment, publication and data management. We will also continue to assist researchers in publishing their research results and gaining visibility. 

Ask us for more information! 

The Library's research support services are carried out in collaboration between the Library's services and the information specialists of different disciplines. The assessment, publication and data management services are responsible for the coordination and development of publication data collection, research data management, open access publication, bibliometrics, and publication archive services. The services participate in the University's internal co-operation in the development of the Research Information System and data services as well as in national and international co-operation in the development of open science infrastructures and services. 

The guides maintained by the Library are available 24/7. If you cannot find an answer in the guides, the library experts can be contacted through the service addresses (kirjasto@utu.fi; researchportal@utu.fi; openutu@utu.fi, julkaisut@utu.fi). The services are led by Head of Library Services Jukka Rantasaari.