NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION:
TACKLING 'OPEN ACCESS' FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES
“A key role of academic libraries is to provide information and resources to scholars. The idea of ‘open access’ – a model for unrestricted sharing of research outcomes – is something our Library is committed to, to get more information in the hands of scholars and support for authors trying to navigate the complex publishing system,”
Alison Hitchens, associate university librarian.
Libraries are uniquely positioned within the world of academia to take the lead in moving open access forward because of our relationships with publishers, expertise in an array of subjects from citations to copyright, and our commitment to long-term access and preservation of work developed on campuses. As the industry moves towards requiring peer-reviewed government-funded research to be openly accessible online shortly after publication, the Library has been supporting researchers in several key areas, both inside and out of the current pay-for-access system, saving them time and money (and probably a few headaches) as they navigate this changing landscape.
From within the current system, the Library continues to work with publishers to make it easier for researchers to navigate the complex publishing ecosystem while ensuring research remains open access. Jordan Hale, digital repositories librarian, provides the expertise needed to navigate the ever-changing road to publication: “I help researchers get the information they need as quickly as possible, to empower them to negotiate their rights as authors, and to assuage any anxiety around the publication process by helping them make informed decisions.” Hale also manages UW Space, the Library’s digital collection of openly accessible scholarship, which continues to expand to push as much Waterloo-generated research into the global information ecosystem as possible.
Scholars at Waterloo can also choose to publish openly using the Library’s open journal publishing service, which provides the publishing platform and technical support. Currently, six student journals are being published with more in the works, providing students hands-on experience and the ability to share their work broadly to receive more feedback. The Library is also collaborating on several projects, investing in open access infrastructure and organizations working within this space as part of our commitment to the democratization of information.
At Waterloo, the Library is helping scholars who are tackling some of our biggest challenges to share their discoveries more quickly, with as broad an audience as possible, contributing to a more inclusive academic environment for all.