Figshare: a universal repository for academic resource sharing?

Abstract

Purpose – A number of subject-orientated and general websites have emerged to host academic resources. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the uptake of such services in order to decide which depositing strategies are effective and should be encouraged. Design/methodology/approach – This paper evaluates the views and shares of resources in the generic repository Figshare by subject category and resource type. Findings – Figshare use and common resource types vary substantially by subject category but resources can be highly viewed even in subjects with few members. More active subject areas do not tend to have more viewed or shared resources. Research limitations/implications – The view counts and share counts analysed may reflect author accesses or may be spammed. Practical implications – Limited uptake of Figshare within a subject area should not be a barrier to its use. Several highly successful innovative uses for Figshare show that it can reach beyond a purely academic audience. Originality/value – This is the first analysis of the uptake and use of a generic academic resource sharing repository.