Appendix L — HARP: Hybrid Access And Archival Publishing Protocol
A Structured Framework for Reference Access, Verification, and Archival Preservation
1. Purpose and Rationale
The HARP system (Hybrid Access and Archival Publishing Protocol) has been developed to address a central challenge of modern publishing: how to provide reliable, ethical, and long-term access to referenced works in an environment where digital links change, publishers merge, and access models vary widely.
Traditional reference systems focus primarily on citation format and bibliographic identification. HARP extends this by explicitly addressing access, verification, and preservation, while remaining readable, concise, and suitable for both electronic and printed editions.
The system is hybrid by design, bringing together established scholarly identifiers, open repositories, library catalogues, and archival records into a single coherent framework.
2. Hybrid Access for Digital and Print Editions
HARP is designed to function equally well in electronic and printed formats. In electronic editions, all access labels are presented as live hyperlinks, allowing readers to move directly from the reference list to the source material. In printed editions, full web addresses are displayed so that references remain usable without reliance on embedded links.
This dual presentation ensures that readers of hard-copy editions can immediately locate referenced materials, while digital readers benefit from direct, one-click access.
This hybrid approach preserves accessibility across formats and reinforces HARP’s guiding principle: references should remain practical, verifiable, and durable, regardless of how the work is read.
3. Accessibility for Non-Specialist Readers
HARP has been designed with non-specialist readers in mind, including parents who may not have formal training in academic or medical research.
While many references originate from peer-reviewed medical and psychological literature, the access pathways are structured to minimise technical barriers and reduce the need for specialist navigation skills.
Where possible, readers are directed to clear landing pages, open repositories, or preview access that allow them to understand the source material without requiring institutional access or advanced research experience.
This approach reflects a deliberate editorial choice: referenced materials should be reachable and interpretable, not merely cited. HARP aims to support informed reading by making authoritative sources as straightforward to locate as possible, regardless of a reader’s background.
4. Legitimate and Cost-Free Access Where Available
Wherever possible, HARP prioritises legitimate, no-cost access to source material through open repositories, public libraries, and publisher-sanctioned platforms.
This includes resources such as PubMed Central, the NCBI Bookshelf, library catalogues, and authorised preview services. Paid or restricted access is not circumvented; rather, alternative lawful pathways are provided where they exist.
This approach reflects a practical and ethical commitment: readers should be able to engage with authoritative source material without unnecessary financial or institutional barriers, while fully respecting copyright, publisher policies, and author rights.
5. Reference Entry Structure
Each reference consists of two components:
- Citation Block
- Access Block (HARP)
5.1 Citation Block
The citation block follows APA-style conventions, adapted for clarity and consistency within this publication, and identifies the work itself using a consistent visual hierarchy:
- A reference number in square brackets (e.g. [12]) corresponding to in-text citations
- Author(s) and year of publication
- Title of the work (italicised)
- Publication details (journal, volume, issue, pages, or publisher)
This block establishes authorship, provenance, and context.
5.2 Access Block (HARP)
The Access Block appears beneath the citation in a smaller font and lists only those access routes that are legitimate, available, and relevant for the specific reference. Labels are included only when a valid link exists.
The access labels are ordered by function, authority, and long-term reliability.
- Authority Layer
- Access Layer
- Metadata and Discovery
- Preservation
- Supplementary Level
A. Authority Layer
DOI — Digital Object Identifier
Where available, the DOI is the primary authority reference. A DOI functions as a persistent resolver that should continue to direct readers to the publisher-of-record even if the publisher’s web address changes.
PUB — Publisher
When no DOI exists, PUB is used to identify the official publisher or publisher landing page for the work. This is common for books, older works, and some non-journal publications.
DOI and PUB are mutually exclusive; only one is used per reference.
B. Access Layer
The access layer provides lawful pathways for readers to view the work itself.
PMC — PubMed Central
PMC denotes full-text access hosted by PubMed Central (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Where available, PMC provides the most complete and reader-friendly access, often including HTML and PDF formats.
NCBI — National Center for Biotechnology Information
NCBI is used for full-text access to authoritative reference works hosted on the NCBI Bookshelf, such as StatPearls, GeneReviews, and similar resources.
GBL — Google Books Library
GBL denotes publisher-sanctioned preview access via Google Books. It is used primarily when full-text repositories such as PMC or NCBI are not available. Access is typically limited to selected pages and does not include full downloadable copies.
C. Metadata and Discovery Layer
PMD — PubMed
PMD denotes a PubMed index record providing authoritative metadata, abstracts, citation tools, and DOI confirmation. PMD does not provide direct full-text access but may include links to publisher pages or other access points. It is used when no open full-text repository (such as PMC or NCBI) is available.
CAT — Catalogue Record
CAT denotes a library catalogue record (e.g. National Library of Medicine or equivalent), used primarily for books and out-of-print works. Catalogue records establish bibliographic authority and discovery where publisher access is unavailable or fragmented.
D. Preservation Layer
ARC — Archive
ARC refers to an archived version of the source, captured via a recognised archival service such as the Internet Archive.
- For journal articles, ARC may preserve a snapshot of the publisher’s page as it appeared at the time of citation.
- For books, ARC may point to a controlled digital lending copy where available.
ARC links serve as historical witnesses, documenting the state of a source at a specific point in time.
On the Interpretation of Archival Dates
ARC links point to the earliest available archived snapshot of a referenced source where possible. The date of an archived snapshot reflects the moment the page was captured by the archival service and does not necessarily correspond to the original publication date of the work. Archival dates are therefore indicative of recorded web presence, not authorship or publication chronology.
ARC entries are included as historical witnesses, documenting how a source appeared at a specific point in time and preserving access in the event of future changes, relocations, or removals. They are not intended to establish priority, version history, or publication timing.
Supplementary Material
VID — Video
VID is included only when video material is itself a cited source or where supplementary media materially contributes to understanding the referenced work. It is not included as a standard element.
E. Access Limitations and Archiving
Not all publishers permit third-party archiving or full-text distribution. Where certain access routes are not listed for a reference, this reflects publisher policy or platform constraints rather than omission. HARP records access only where legitimate and available, documenting limitations globally rather than repeatedly at the individual reference level.
Design Principles
HARP is guided by five core principles:
- Authority — Every reference identifies a publisher-of-record or canonical resolver
- Legitimacy — All access routes respect copyright and publisher permissions
- Clarity — Labels describe function, not institutional hierarchy
- Redundancy — Multiple pathways reduce reliance on any single platform
- Longevity — Archival records preserve references beyond platform lifespans
Locating Sources When Links Change
Digital links can occasionally change or become unavailable over time. Where this occurs, the access labels provided in the HARP system (such as DOI, PMC, PMD, or publisher records) indicate the primary platforms through which the source can normally be located.
Even if a specific hyperlink no longer functions, the cited work can typically be found by entering the article title, DOI, or author and year into the indicated platform or a general search engine.
The inclusion of multiple access layers is intended to ensure that referenced sources remain discoverable even if individual links change or are relocated.
Summary
HARP is not a citation style but a publishing protocol that extends conventional referencing systems by making access, verification, and long-term preservation explicit.
While traditional citation formats establish authorship and publication details, HARP adds structured access pathways and archival references so that cited works remain locatable, verifiable, and durable over time.
By separating authority, access, metadata, and preservation into clearly defined layers, HARP supports both scholarly rigor and real-world usability for a diverse readership.
External Links Disclaimer
External hyperlinks are provided solely for reader convenience and reference. Their inclusion does not constitute endorsement of the linked organisations, authors, or websites.
Online content can change over time. Websites may be modified, moved, deleted, transferred to new ownership, or placed behind access restrictions such as paywalls or registration requirements. The publisher and authors have no control over the ongoing availability or content of these external resources.
All links contained within the HARP access blocks were verified as accurate and functional at the time of publication. Readers should use their own judgement when accessing external sites.
Where possible, archival versions of sources are provided to improve long-term accessibility. The publisher and authors accept no responsibility for the content, accuracy, or availability of external websites.