OpenDOAR is an authoritative directory of over 2600 academic open access repositories. Each OpenDOAR repository has been visited by project staff to check the information that is recorded here. This in-depth approach does not rely on automated analysis and gives a quality-controlled list of repositories.

As well as providing a simple repository list, OpenDOAR lets you search for repositories or search repository contents. Additionally, they provide tools and support to both repository administrators and service providers in sharing best practice and improving the quality of the repository infrastructure. Further explanation of these features is given in a project document Beyond the list.

The current directory lists repositories and allows breakdown and selection by a variety of criteria - see the Find page - which can also be viewed as statistical charts. The underlying database has been designed from the ground up to include in-depth information on each repository that can be used for search, analysis, or underpinning services like text-mining. The OpenDOAR service is being developed incrementally, developing the current service as new features are introduced. A list of Upgrades and Additions is available.

Developments will be of use both to users wishing to find original research papers and for service providers like search engines or alert services which need easy-to-use tools for developing tailored search services to suit specific user communities. OpenDOAR has also been identified as a key resource for the Open Access community (K.B.Oliver & R.Swain, 2006 - PDF) and identified as the leader in repository directories in a study by Johns Hopkins University. OpenDOAR was one of the services which contributed to SHERPA being awarded the 2007 SPARC Europe Award for Outstanding Achievements in Scholarly Communications.

More information on the project is available on this site through the About page.