University of Houston Libraries

By default, all works deposited in UHIR are openly accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Depositors may choose to apply access restrictions to their work (see the Access Restriction), but we strongly encourage minimizing such restrictions to maximize accessibility and impact.  

Items are made available online in at least the original format in which they were deposited. When feasible and easily automated, proprietary formats (see the Digital Preservation Guidelines) may be converted to formats compatible with freely available software to enhance accessibility.  

Additionally, some items may be converted to more preservable formats to ensure long-term usability, while others will remain available only in their original format. For more details on preservation support, refer to the UHIR Digital Preservation Guidelines. If you encounter any issues with accessing a file, please contact the UHIR Administrator (cougarroar@uh.edu).

All works deposited in UHIR are protected by copyright unless explicitly stated otherwise. The copyright owner is typically indicated in the metadata accompanying the work. If no copyright owner is specified and the item is not in the public domain, it should be assumed that the work is under copyright, with the author(s) or publisher likely holding the rights. 

Users may reuse copyrighted works under the Copyright and Fair Use For Reserves doctrine. Still, they are responsible for assessing whether their use qualifies as fair use or obtaining any necessary permissions for further publication or distribution. 

Some works in UHIR may be in the public domain or made available under a Creative Commons license, explicitly defining permissible uses. Such information will be included in the metadata and/or stated on the item itself. 

For more details, refer to the UHIR Copyright and Intellectual Property Guidelines. 

A core mission of UHIR is to provide broad access to the research and scholarship produced at the University of Houston, ensuring it receives the widest possible recognition. To achieve this goal, UHIR employs multiple dissemination strategies, including:  

• Facilitating the indexing of metadata and items by major search engines. 

• Assigning persistent Handle identifiers to ensure reliable citation and discovery of content. 

• Encouraging depositors to include their ORCID, linking their work to their research profiles.  

UHIR remains dedicated to exploring and adopting new methods to enhance the dissemination and visibility of its content. 

The UHIR ACCEPTS digital content reflecting the scholarly, educational, and administrative output of the university from faculty, students, staff, and campus units, including: 

1. Pre-/post-prints, and/or previously published materials (e.g., books, journal articles, music scores, poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, art, music and dance recordings). 

2. Unpublished works (e.g., technical reports, white papers, research posters, symposia proceedings, capstone projects, or other creative work). 

3. Electronic theses, dissertations, and capstone projects. 

4. Learning objects, including syllabi, instructional materials, and primary sources organized for teaching purposes. 

5. Electronic administrative records produced by university units to document actions and/or decisions. 

6. Student organization digital objects, including rosters, meeting minutes, and event publicity materials. 

The UHIR CAN NOT accept: 

1. Works to which the author does not own the copyright. 

2. Works that infringe upon the copyright of others. 

3. Works that contain confidential or sensitive information. 

UHIR adheres to the directives on copyright and intellectual property outlined in the UH System Board of Regents Policies, Section III – Academic and Student Success, 21 Academic Affairs. The management of digital rights for repository materials will evolve in alignment with University of Houston policies and legal requirements. For detailed guidelines, refer to the Copyright and Intellectual Property Guidelines. 

By default, all materials in UHIR are accessible worldwide. However, restrictions may be applied when necessary. For more information, see the Access and Use Guidelines. 

UHIR accepts works in any digital format; however, submission in a recommended file format is strongly encouraged. These recommended formats are considered relatively stable and are better suited for long-term preservation. For further details, please refer to the Digital Preservation Guidelines. 

Metadata is descriptive information about an object, such as the details recorded for a book in a library catalog. UHIR defines a baseline set of metadata fields for all works deposited. Utilizing the required metadata elements ensures enhanced user access to archived works and supports ongoing management of access rights and preservation activities. 

For more information on metadata requirements and recommendations, please refer to the Metadata Guidelines. 

UHIR utilizes the DSpace software, which operates on a straightforward hierarchical structure of Communities and Collections. Communities contain Collections, and Collections house digital items. Roles are associated with this hierarchy to manage the repository effectively: 

• UHIR Administrator (cougarroar@uh.edu)

• Community Administrator 

• Collection/Subcollection Administrator 

The details of the Non-exclusive Distribution License can be found here: 

UHIR accepts work in any digital format; however, submission in the file format listed below is strongly encouraged. The formats listed below are considered relatively stable and therefore facilitate long-term preservation efforts.

These formats exhibit all or many of the following characteristics:

• Open documentation
• Support across a range of software platforms
• Wide adoption; no compression (or lossless compression)
• No embedded files or embedded programs/scripts
• Non-proprietary format.  

File Size: 

• File uploads greater than 50 MB must be pre-approved by UH Libraries staff since large uploads require a mediated deposit process. 

• Projects (including those for individuals, classes, departments, and research centers) are subject to a 2 GB maximum limit. 

Recommended File Formats:

Textual Formats

Image/Graphic Formats 

Audio Formats 

Video Formats

If the format is not listed above, please refer to the DSpace Bitstream Format to verify whether DSpace supports the submission of that file format.  

For non-recommended formats, derivative files in more stable formats may be created. Whenever possible, both the original file and its derivative will be preserved, along with their associated descriptive and administrative metadata. Users are encouraged to maintain their archival master files in addition to the access copies, potentially storing them in separate locations outside of UHIR. 

UHIR employs a multi-faceted strategy to ensure the long-term access and usability of submitted works and their associated metadata. Key elements include: 

• Persistent Identifiers: All works submitted to UHIR are assigned a persistent URL to ensure reliable access and citation, even as systems and technologies evolve. 

• Secure Backup: Regular backups to ensure data integrity and availability. 

• Storage Media Refreshment: Periodic updating of storage media to prevent data degradation. 

• File Format Migration: Conversion of files into more stable or standard formats during submission or preservation as needed. 

At this time, UHIR guarantees the preservation of the bitstream (the binary form of the data). When resources permit, efforts will also be made to maintain as much of the original file’s functionality, “look and feel,” as possible, with priority given to works submitted in a File Format Recommendations. 

Accepted Metadata and Bitstream format registries are provided in the DSpace Documentation. If you are interested in including additional metadata fields in your work, please contact the UHIR Administrator (cougarroar@uh.edu).