If you build it, will they use it? Measuring usage of a global open access repository to assess impact.

The availability of shared data and non-traditional research outputs has increased dramatically over the last ten years and this corpus is growing at an exponential rate. Generalist repository platforms have matured into well-known locations to transparently share a wide range of outputs, enabling sustainable sharing and reuse of data. They have a global reach and serve researchers from a wide range of domains and research settings. However, what does the use of these open platforms actually look like? Have they helped researchers share outputs FAIRly? Is the data being reused and cited? If so, what percent of citations are other than self citations? The answers to these questions can help build a business case for research support services and resource allocation, as well as guiding platform development. They also help inform the broader conversation around how institutional repositories fit into the research landscape, democratizing data sharing and empowering global progress. In this paper we present data from one free generalist platform, examining how its global user base shares and reuses research outputs, with specific focus on linking and citations, to answer the questions above and explore its contribution to empowering global progress.