2.2.2.6 Access to archived Cochrane Reviews

All previously published Cochrane Reviews (including Protocols) are stored in The Cochrane Collaboration’s central server, Archie, which supports the running of the editorial bases and satellites of the Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) and enables the publication of Cochrane Reviews. In preparation for the launch of Archie during 2005-2006, all previously published versions of Cochrane Reviews were restored from source material for all published issues of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [1994-1996] and The Cochrane Library from the year 1996, providing easy access to these earlier published versions. All new reviews and updated versions of previously published Cochrane Reviews are stored in Archie, and cannot be deleted. Archie also contains versions of draft Cochrane Reviews that are not published. These can be deleted.

The archive of published Cochrane Reviews is only available to editorial bases of CRGs (as well as system and data administrators for Archie), and can help editorial teams to answer queries about previously published versions which are not available in the public archive through The Cochrane Library (see below). However, it is at the discretion of the CRGs as to whether they choose to provide copies of Cochrane Reviews to people who have asked for them. For information about how to contact CRGs, see www.cochrane.org/contact/entities.htm#CRGLIST.

Researchers can also apply for permission from the Cochrane Collaboration Steering Group for access to previously published reviews by contacting the Director of the Cochrane Information Management System (IMS). If permission is granted, the IMS Development team at the Nordic Cochrane Centre can provide these data, but there may be a cost for this service.

The Cochrane Libraryon the Wiley InterScience online platform archives all citation versions of previously published Cochrane Reviews (including Protocols) starting from Issue 4, 2003 (www.thecochranelibrary.com). Where previous versions of a Cochrane Review exist, these can be accessed via the ‘Other Versions’ link on the menu in the left-hand frame of the review. Only users with a subscription to The Cochrane Library can access archived Cochrane Reviews.

Deleted Protocols are also archived online on Wiley InterScience. These are not visible to the user via the Search or Browse functions, but will appear if the user types in the exact URL for the deleted Protocol.