Author Rights

A digital repository is an electronic collection designed to capture and preserve the intellectual output of a single- or multi-university community.  Digital repositories are rapidly developing at research institutions around the world and have many things in common, such as:

• They are typically funded by the institution.
• They handle all kinds of scholarly and creative works, as long as they are digital.
• They are a service to the researchers affiliated with the institution.
• They become a showcase for the scholarship and creativity of their institutions.
• They will be maintained indefinitely by their institutions.

OpenDOAR maintains a directory of academic open access repositories.

The University of Maryland's digital repository is called DRUM (Digital Repository at the University of Maryland).  DRUM captures, preserves, and provides access to the output of University of Maryland researchers, centers, and labs.  Materials deposited in DRUM are indexed and made freely available over the web, promoting open access to the diverse body of research created by UM faculty and students.

Ready to deposit your work in DRUM?  Here's how:

1) Visit DRUM at drum.lib.umd.edu and click Login in the column on the left.

2) Log in using your Directory ID and Directory Password (same as for other campus systems)

3) Use the button onscreen to Start a New Submission.

4) Select the collection for your department and follow the easy onscreen directions.

Alternatively, you can contact DRUM Help and we can deposit your documents.

Benefits of depositing your research in DRUM:

• Wider dissemination of your work (not limited to journal subscribers)
• Increased potential for your publications to be cited by others
• Ability to upload associated content (datasets, video/audio files, etc.)
• Permanent URL that will not change
• Results of your research collected in one place
• Accessible from any computer at any location

DRUM deposits are indexed in Google, Google Scholar, and other search engines and harvesters - both popular and more scholarly - making them highly visible to any web user.