Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Moving towards an open access future: the role of academic libraries

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

Interesting and useful report documenting the rise of open access publication, its increasing importance to academics and students, and the role of librarians in supporting this transition. The report feel light at only 16 pages; perhaps there's a longer version soemwhere. The major role for librarians seems to be in the area of resource discovery, though admittedly "the best discovery systems aren't library ones." Librarians may also have a role managing article charges, as the gold option (where the institution pays the journal to publish the work openly) seems to be institutionally favoured at the moment. But probably the major role for librarians in the future will be the custody of special collections. "'We've collected materials so people can read them. The challenge is to make unique materials widely available in the digital world," was one comment. Related: David Weinberger argues "libraries ought to think of themselves not as portals but as open platforms that give access to all the information and metadata they can."

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Apr 24, 2024 2:45 p.m.

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