Frequently Asked Questions


What is Dartmouth Digital Commons (DDC)?

Dartmouth Digital Commons (DDC) is a publishing platform and open repository that hosts scholarly, research, and educational materials created by the faculty, students, and staff of Dartmouth. Content includes journal articles, books, conference proceedings, theses and dissertations, student-run journals, and more.

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Who can put materials into DDC?

Dartmouth faculty and staff can add their scholarly work to DDC. Students can add their completed theses and dissertations, or submit work to one of the student journals.

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Who can access the materials in DDC?

DDC is open access, so anyone with an internet connection can view and download the contents. No login or institutional affiliation is needed.

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What types of materials can go in DDC?

The repository can host articles (preprints/peer-reviewed final manuscripts or the published version), posters, audiovisual files, images, and ebooks. If you have a question about a specific item, contact us.

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What is a preprint/peer-reviewed final manuscript?

Many of the items in DDC are preprints, or peer-reviewed final manuscripts. These are versions of articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Preprints and final manuscripts have the same content as the final version, but the formatting may look a little different from the published journal.

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How do I cite something from DDC?

For articles published elsewhere, use the citation for the published version (journal title, volume/issue, page numbers, publication date). This information may be listed in the description; if there is a DOI (digital object identifier), go to www.doi.org and use it to find the article. At the end of your citation, add the link to the DDC version (“accessed [date] from [URL]”). For original materials not published elsewhere, cite the DDC version and list Dartmouth Digital Commons in the publisher field. If you have any questions about citing materials, please contact us.

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How do I submit an item?

Go to Submit Your Work and follow the instructions. You must be logged into your account. If you are submitting work to a student journal, you will be redirected to the guidelines for the particular resource. Contact us if you have difficulty or questions about the submission process.

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I want to submit an article that I've published. What format should I use?

This varies by publisher, so consult your contract or the publisher’s policies. Most journals allow you to put the preprint/accepted manuscript in your institutional repository; some permit you to share the published version. If you aren’t sure, contact us and we will help you determine the best option.

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I have questions about the copyright on my materials.

For general information, look through our guide on Copyright, Author Rights, and Fair Use and our Author Rights guide. If you still have questions, please contact us for a copyright consultation.

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Who runs DDC?

Dartmouth Digital Commons is managed by the Dartmouth Scholarly Communication, Copyright, and Publishing Program, which consists of the Head of Scholarly Communication, Copyright and Publishing and the Scholarly Publishing Librarian.

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My question was not covered here.

Please get in touch with us! We’re happy to help.

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