10 The WHO Library archives files of all WHO publications, assigning each a unique and permanent link (Uniform Resource Locator or URL) so that it can be easily retrieved. These are not intended as source files for future updates, though some may serve that purpose, but the fixed location of each file enables it to be located in the event of changes to the department or team that produced it. Staff should not place publications on their departmental internet sites, but should link to the relevant URLs in the headquarters or regional libraries. The URLs of WHO headquarters and regional publications can be located by searching for the products in the Institutional Repository for Information Sharing and on WHO internet sites.
Institutional Repository for Information Sharing
20 The Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS) has been developed to improve access to and dissemination of publications published by WHO headquarters, regional offices and country offices in all available languages. It includes the definitive collection of WHO publications in official and non-official languages and is searchable in all official languages. At WHO headquarters, WHO Press sends the final electronic file of publications to the WHO Library for inclusion in IRIS (repository@who.int); in regional offices, departments should send the final electronic file of their publications to their regional office library. A printed copy should also be sent for inclusion in the print collection, if available.
30 IRIS includes different versions and editions of WHO publications. When submitting the electronic files of their publications for inclusion in IRIS, staff should indicate whether any previous versions or editions should continue to be publicly accessible.
Europe PubMed Central
40 In accordance with the policy on copyright (Information Note 13/2007, Copyright and WHO), WHO staff who are intending to submit a contribution to an external journal publisher should use a WHO copyright licence (see section VIII.6.3), to ensure that WHO retains the right to place the author-accepted manuscript in Europe PubMed Central.
WHO Library database
50 The WHO Library database (WHOLIS) is the catalogue of the print collection of the WHO Library and indexes all WHO publications published in printed formats since 1948 as well as non-WHO titles.
Electronic collections of WHO publications
60 Departments wishing to create electronic collections of WHO publications and other materials by topic (topical libraries) for integration within the WHO headquarters internet site should contact the Digital, Social and Visual team (webteam@who.int) or the WHO Library (lnk@who.int) for guidance. In regional offices, departments wishing to create such collections within their regional office internet site should contact their regional office library.
