Conference Abstract

The value of open access in scholarly communication has been understood for almost as long as the internet has offered the potential to disseminate information and materials immediately and universally. Twenty years after the start of the open access movement, the scholarly communication ecosystem is rapidly evolving into an open paradigm, and we can easily imagine a not-so-distant future in which open scholarship is the norm.

Beyond enabling open access quality research, the open access transition should generate new opportunities for inclusive and equitable participation in the global research and scholarly communication system. How can libraries influence the forces at play in the current landscape to ensure that the open paradigm that is rapidly coming into focus is genuinely open to and supportive of marginalized communities and individuals in the current system, particularly those who live and work in resource limited contexts and in countries with political constraints on access and resources? 

The satellite will offer some insights on the many ways that global equity and inclusion can be fostered in the new realm of open scholarly communication systems and open science practices. 

The following questions will be explored:

• Open access publishing
  If, in the subscription era, libraries aspired to satisfy all content needs for their users, in what ways can libraries promote a diverse open access publishing ecosystem and deliver access publishing opportunities that support all of their users across all disciplines?
• Fee-based open access publishing
  How might libraries foster publisher accountability for inclusive and globally equitable practices—financial, organizational, editorial—through their negotiations for open access publishing services?
• Open information ecosystem
  How might libraries act as connectors to integrate scholarly knowledge for the benefit of policy makers, researchers, individuals?
• Open research practices
  In what ways can libraries partner with other stakeholders to strengthen open science and research practices in a way that reduces inequities?
• Budgetary transformation
  If access to read the bulk of science and scholarship is free to all, what services do libraries no longer provide?  What new services will they have to provide?  How can the transition be navigated?

Location: Erasmus University Rotterdam

We will meet in Rotterdam with participants from around the world to explore the opportunities for libraries, in their new role(s), to foster inclusiveness and global equity in a paradigm based on open scholarly communication and open information and research systems.

Partners:

Our partners include the Max Planck Institute, the British Library, and IFLA Open Access Group, IFLA sections of CPDWL (Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning), Health and Biological Sciences Libraries, Serials and Other Continuing Resources, and the Women, Information and Libraries SIG.

Organisation:

The Academic and Research Libraries Section will take the lead in collaboration with Erasmus University on the organization and management of the satellite conference.