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NIH Public Access Policy

This guide provides an overview of the NIH Public Access Policy and guidelines for ensuring your research publications are in compliance.

Submission Methods

There are four methods for getting articles into PubMed Central (PMC), depending on the journal the article is published in and what method the publisher has chosen. Knowing which method the particular journal or publisher follows will dictate what steps you need to take to make sure your article complies with NIH's Public Access Policy.

The table below summarizes each method, and includes a link to NIH's specific steps for each.

Methods Table

 

Method A

Method B

Method C

Method D
Summary Journal deposits final published articles in PubMed Central without author involvement Author asks publisher to deposit  final published article in PMC (see note below) Author deposits final peer-reviewed manuscript in PMC via the NIHMS Publisher deposits peer-reviewed manuscript, Author completes submission process
Version of paper submitted Final Published Article Final Published Article Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscript Final Peer-Reviewed Manuscript
Who starts the deposit process? Publisher Publisher Author or designee, via NIHMS Publisher
Who approves paper for processing? Publisher Publisher Author, via NIHMS Author, via NIHMS
Who approves paper for Pub Med Central display? Publisher Publisher Author, via NIHMS Author, via NIHMS
Participating journal/publisher Method A Journals Make arrangements with these publishers Check publishing agreement Method D publishers
Who is Responsible? NIH Awardee NIH Awardee NIH Awardee NIH Awardee
To cite papers, from acceptance for publication to 3 months post publication PMCID or “PMC Journal- In Process” PMCID or “PMC Journal- In Process” PMCID or NIHMSID PMCID or NIHMSID
To cite papers, 3 months post publication and beyond PMCID PMCID PMCID PMCID

Note: In regard to Method B, "Arrangements" with the publisher may mean an APC payment. You do not have to pay an APC to comply with the policy. You can check to see if Lehigh Libraries has an existing read-and-publish agreement with the publisher and proceed accordingly; if we do not, Methods C or D will ensure compliance.

 

This page was adapted with permission from the University of Washington's NIH Public Access Policy Help Guide via a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.