One of the hottest topics in academia and libraries lately has been the open access movement. Already in effect in the UK’s public library system, open access would allow any user at a public library to have access to online material through services such as Thomson Reuters and ProQuest free of charge, as long as they use library computers. Although the concept is simple enough, and although there are already some open access journals available, the idea of open access in the United States has been met with some resistance.

So what exactly is open access?

Open access is a movement that seeks to increase access to information and innovation through free access to published online information, particularly that of a scholarly nature. Open access (OA) literature is digital, online, free of charge to the reader, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions, so there are no price or permission barriers.

Why does this matter?

Most publishers own the rights to the articles in their journals. Anyone who wants to read the articles must pay to access them. Anyone who wants to use the articles for any purpose other than reading them must obtain permission from the publisher and is often required to pay an additional fee. Open access journals would allow more people to be able to access this information.

What are the benefits of open access?

• Accelerated discovery. With open access, researchers can read and build on the findings of others without restriction.
• Public enrichment. Much scientific and medical research is paid for with public funds. Open Access allows taxpayers to see the results of their investment.
• Improved education. Open Access means that teachers and their students have access to the latest research findings throughout the world.

Scientists have been pushing for open access to scientific data, reports and materials for some time in the hopes that opening up access will also spur scientific research and collaboration. Currently, there are some collections available via open access, which anyone can access without a subscription or fee, but not nearly to the extent that open access would allow.

The United States is starting to open up, but not at the speed of Europe. One question this raises is, if access to previously locked materials continues, will this alleviate the current digital divide between the haves and have-nots? Some people in certain income brackets can afford to have access to certain materials, mainly at home, while others are limited by their incomes and access to the Internet and technology. This is especially true with locked materials for which there is a fee. Public libraries can be one way to help bridge this divide.

In a recent study conducted by the University of Maryland about digital inclusion, libraries were shown to have a major role in helping users to complete education, improve chances for employment and increase entrepreneurship. Until the Digital Inclusion Survey, no national study had shown in such detail the extent to which libraries complete education, jumpstart employment and entrepreneurship, and foster individual empowerment and engagement. More open access would only add to the population-enriching services that many libraries already offer.

And open access wouldn’t just be good for library users—libraries could stand to benefit, as well. According to librarian and blogger Hugh Rundle, “Open Access means that librarians can finally forget about selection and concentrate on discovery. Imagine what will happen to the discovery layers you’re excited about when none of them are tied to particular content. Instead of choosing the one that is merely satisfactory but gives access to particular journals, you can choose the one that is excellent at allowing discovery. All that money you’re spending on authentication systems and all those rules about registration are out the window. So it’s not just an Academic question. Open Access matters.”

If you are looking at ways to add open access content to your website, or are pursuing a review of additional technologies, Cadence Group can advise you on next steps.

Written by: Tina Baker and Barbara Maxwell
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