Seattle University School of Law Institutional Repository Collection Policy and Guidelines

Introduction:

Digital Commons is the institutional repository of Seattle University School of Law. It is designed to provide centralized open access to Law School scholarship, activities, publications, and history. Seattle University School of Law established the repository in 2011.

Repository Administration:

The Seattle University Law Library is responsible for selecting, uploading, organizing, and maintaining most materials in the repository. Accredited student run journals and selected law school centers are responsible for their own materials. The Law Library retains discretion in granting centers and departments the ability to directly upload their materials.

Criteria for Repository Inclusion:

Material should meet the following general criteria for inclusion in the repository:

  • The author, creator, or subject is affiliated with Seattle University School of Law. The repository houses material created by current and former Seattle University School of Law faculty, students, and staff. The repository also houses material about the history of Seattle University School of Law.
  • The work must be creative, scholarly in nature, research oriented, or of institutional significance.
  • The item is suitable for indefinite retention and is in a permanent format. Items that are transitory or have temporary value should not be housed in the repository (e.g. working papers or drafts). Preference is to include previously published works and actual, tangible materials (articles, photos, videos) rather than descriptions, citations, or links.
  • Appropriate permissions have been secured. The Law Library posts works in the repository with appropriate permissions. Faculty scholarship is regularly uploaded to the repository, unless the faculty member explicitly opts out of the repository or publisher permission cannot be obtained. Seattle University School of Law publications and materials, including Seattle University School of Law journals, publications like the Lawyer or Spotlight, or photos and video footage are added without additional author, creator or subject permissions. The Law Library seeks to secure permissions from publishers that do not adhere to open access policies. The Law Library will seek permission from photographers and/or subjects to use images or footage taken outside the auspices of Seattle University.

Collection Development Priorities:

  • Centers, Programs, and Events (e.g. photos, events, reports, and amicus briefs)
  • Faculty Scholarship (e.g. articles and book chapters when copyright and/or license allow)
  • Law School Archives (e.g. view books, photos, reports, newsletters, posters)
  • Law School Publications (e.g. the Lawyer)
  • Publications of Major Public Interest (e.g. The Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission of Kenya)
  • Student Publications and Programs (e.g. the four accredited, student run law journals)

Limitations:

The Law Library makes collection decisions in accordance with available resources and capacities. Please note that the following material is not permitted for inclusion:

  • Materials that have copyright or privacy issues.
  • Materials of difficult size or format.
  • Materials that include non-public personally identifiable or contact information.
  • FERPA and HIPAA protected information or material barred by law or regulation from publication.
  • Materials of authors with no affiliation with Seattle University School of Law.
  • Unpublished or personal works.

Author Rights:

The author retains the copyright for all works submitted. The author is free to reuse the content, but it is their responsibility to check the terms of the publication agreement if a document published in Digital Commons is published elsewhere.

Retention and Withdrawal of Materials:

The repository is meant to be a permanent record. Once an item is deposited anywhere in the repository, a citation to it will always remain. Removing content is discouraged, but authors may request that the Law Library remove their files. If an author leaves the School of Law, the material will remain in the repository.

Preservation and Migration:

The Law Library is committed to preserving and providing access to all the contents in the repository. However, some file formats may cease to be supported as a result of changes in technology and may be upgraded or removed if unusable.

In addition, the Law Library may determine that the current institutional repository platform no longer best meets the needs of the Law School community. Should this be the case, and where possible, all content will be migrated to whatever new platform is chosen, and every effort will be made to ensure that content will continue to be accessible.

Terms and Conditions of Use for Repository Content:

Copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices may not be removed from downloaded repository materials. Use of repository materials in ways that are unlawful or infringe on any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary right is prohibited. Users are responsible for all use or misuse of repository materials.

Repository Contacts:

For questions about the repository, please email Conor Cote, Electronic Services Manager