Monday marks the start of the 8th International Open Access week, organised by SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition).
What is Open Access?
“Open Access is the free, immediate, online availability of research articles coupled with the rights to use these articles fully in the digital environment. Open Access ensures that anyone can access and use these results—to turn ideas into industries and breakthroughs into better lives.” – SPARC
The theme of this year’s week is Open in Action – SPARC Director of Programs & Engagement, Nick Shockey explains this is
“about taking concrete steps to open up research and scholarship and encouraging others to do the same.”
What are UAL libraries doing to drive Open Access forward?
Work in this area is led by the Scholarly Communications team, which is part of Library and Academic Support Services, working closely with Research Management and Administration.
More about Scholarly Communications is available in our Subject Guide including a section on Open Access.
The core work of the Scholarly Communications team is to manage and develop the university’s Open Access research repository – UAL Research Online. As an arts university, as well as journal articles, our Open Access content includes images, videos, audio, book chapters and more.
The Scholarly Communications team promote Open Access across the university and beyond: advising UAL academics how to Open Access to their research; working with senior management at the policy level; involvement in national and international committees and organisations such as Jisc; and with our own publications too – Scholarly Communications Manager, Stephanie Meece guest-edited a special issue of the Art Libraries Journal on ‘The role of the art librarian in the Open Access movement’.
The libraries also support open access publishing models, including Knowledge Unlatched, whenever possible.
Open Access week is from Monday 24th October to Sunday 30th October 2016 – everywhere!