Libraries Launches the Next Generation of SURFACE
SURFACE, Syracuse University’s institutional repository for scholarly work, has migrated to a new platform that launches during International Open Access Week 2026.
The newly redesigned SURFACE Digital Repository showcases Syracuse University’s distinctive strengths in research and teaching by connecting visitors with departmental scholarship, program offerings and open-access journals. Stronger descriptive metadata and easier sorting and filtering also create a more intuitive search experience.
For contributors, the process of submitting, reviewing and managing records has never been easier. Now, DOIs (digital object identifiers) can be created for any record, enabling scholarship to be cited, linked and tracked over time. Additional persistent identifiers like ORCIDs (open researcher and contributor identifiers) and RORs (research organization registry) clearly connect newly published SURFACE works with their authors and institutions. Together, they reduce name-disambiguation, make Syracuse scholarship more discoverable and help ensure that authors – and the University – get credit for their work across systems like publisher platforms, funder databases and research tracking tools.
Likewise, journal editors and contributors working on the platform have access to more robust publishing and peer-review workflows developed specifically for SURFACE with input from Libraries’ staff. The enhanced editorial experience and new content management system provides an attractive, modern display for the current site’s fifteen journal titles.
Soon, the Libraries’ SURFACE team will introduce functionality for managing open datasets, code, supplementary materials and other outputs that accompany published digital scholarship. These services will help the Libraries meet the expanding needs of Syracuse faculty and evolving federal mandates while advancing its commitment to accessibility, open access and long-term stewardship of the scholarly record.
The Libraries selected TIND to power this new iteration of SURFACE, joining a growing group of research universities using TIND to publish and disseminate their unique scholarship.
“We’re delighted to offer our SURFACE users a more powerful and intuitive platform,” said Scott Warren, Senior Associate Dean for Research Excellence at the Libraries. “It reflects the Libraries’ emphasis on supporting research and scholarship at Syracuse University.”
For more information, visit the Open Access Research Guide.