Researcher looking into a microscope in a laboratory.

Open Research

Becoming an interdisciplinary incubator, building communities of knowledge and practice. Inspiring people from all backgrounds to engage with our collections and contribute to our research.

Open Research champions the idea that all types of scholarly outputs (including data) should be shared as freely as possible and as early as possible in the research process across all disciplines, both within and beyond academia.

The Open Research Team work with you through the provision of services, systems, resources and training to help you achieve your research goals and enable Open Research. We’re here to engage with you throughout the whole research cycle, no matter what stage you are in your research career to help you plan, publish, preserve and share your research and meet funder requirements. By aiding the development of open research skills and practices, we are working towards more reproducible, accessible and rigorous research. Find out more about the principles and benefits of Open Research.

Research Publications and Rights Retention policy

Following a recent N8 Research Partnership initiative Lancaster University’s Senate have approved a new ‘rights retention’ policy for Lancaster University.

Research Publications and Rights Retention policy

Open Research Services

Open Access

The Library supports researchers to identify where to publish research, understand how to make publications Open Access, meet Open Access requirements, and take advantage of Open Access funding agreements.
Research Data Management

The Library supports researchers in accessing, managing, preserving and sharing research data effectively, including producing Research Data Management Plans and utilising Lancaster University's institutional data repository.
Research Intelligence

The Library provide intelligence that can inform you of the impact and influence of your research, using publication data, citations analysis and Altmetrics. This can help with choosing where to publish, finding collaborators and plays a supporting role in funding bids, benchmarking of current practice and evidencing your research strengths.
Principles and benefits of Open Research

Open Research champions the idea that scholarly and scientific knowledge (and data) should be shared as freely as possible and as early as possible in the research process.

Image of a cartoon character sat a a laptop with papers flying out of the screen.

Open Research Training and Guidance

You can access a range events, training and online resources relating to Open Research through the Library. This includes:

Training sessions delivered through the Library Skills @Lancaster programme
Self-guided online resources and e-learning
Case studies relating to Open Research practices across a range of different academic disciplines

Visit our Open Research Training and events webpage for more information.

Open Research Training

Library Research News

Library book shelves displaying comics and graphic novels

New Graphic Novel Collection on C Floor!

Our new Graphic Novel collection is now on display and available to browse and borrow

How to keep well in wartime, a Ministry of Information pamphlet from WW2. Image of a woman, man and two children dressed in old fashioned clothes.

Make Do and Mend Day - Thursday 15th May

Special Collections and Archives in the Library are holding a special 'Make Do and Mend Day' to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II!

Now Available: The Policy Commons 2025 Open Collection of 'At Risk' Public Information and Data

The Policy Commons 2025 Open Collection from Coherent Digital is an initiative to rescue and preserve materials from government organisations facing the removal of public information and data - reports, blog posts, videos, and podcasts.

A collage of image including a carer with a woman in a wheelchair, and two people wearing medical masks.

Now Available: Policy Commons, Public Health & Social Care

A Public Health and Social Care database of non-journal research, pilot projects, real-world evaluations, newsletters, and collaborative projects is now available from Policy Commons.

An interview with Trailblazers author Kathy Chandler

The first Lancaster University author to be approved for publishing with Trailblazers is Kathy Chandler, lecturer in Technology Enhanced Learning. In a recent interview, Kathy shared insights on her participation in the Trailblazers scheme.

Lancaster University Library joins Open Institutional Publishing Association 

We are very proud to be a member of the Open Institutional Publishing Association (OIPA)

More News

Research Engagement Spaces

The Digital Scholarship and Open Research Labs are flexible spaces that can facilitate a range of workshops and events. The Library is looking to partner with its diverse research community to promote interdisciplinary Open Research and Digital Scholarship throughout the institution and beyond. If you are interested in hosting an event in the Research spaces that relates to either Open Research, Digital Scholarship, or partners with the library, please submit an event request form.

Please visit the Library event spaces webpage to find out further information about the spaces.

If you would like to discuss an event idea with the Library Open Research Team please email libraryevents@lancaster.ac.uk.

For more information about hosting events at the Library, including our events policy, please visit our 'Whats on' webpage.

Lancaster University Open Journals

Lancaster University Open Journals is a platform managed by the Library for hosting open access journals managed by Lancaster University colleagues.

The platform can support a variety of publication types including peer reviewed journals, conference proceedings and other publications. Lancaster University Open Journals uses the open-source software Open Journal Systems to support the entire publishing workflow from researcher to reader, including submission, peer-review and online publication. Published articles and issues can also be fully indexed in global discovery services like Google Scholar, Crossref, and DOAJ through the platform.

SafePod

A SafePod is a standardised safe setting that provides the necessary security for a researcher to access sensitive datasets from participating Data Centres across the UK. The SafePod includes a door control access system, CCTV, a researcher area for the analysis of datasets and a separate secure storage area for IT equipment. The SafePod is also wheelchair accessible and includes a height adjustable desk.

Find out more about the SafePod.