Open Access: Health Sciences Resources

Open Access:

• is information that is:
  • Free
  • Unrestricted
  • Online

• is a movement that wants to increase information access and innovation.
• usually refers to open access publishing, particularly of scholarly communication in academia.
• may be an answer to the serials / scholarly communication crisis, which refers to the system where information is locked up in subscription journals and databases whose prices keep rising (as library and university budgets stagnate or decrease) and universities and libraries are forced to pay for the creation of the research as well as to buy it back through subscriptions.
• is about the democratization of information and knowledge.
• is carried out largely through digital and institutional repositories, where research (including peer-reviewed journals) is posted online for anyone to access, which are indexed by Google and other search engines increasing visibility and impact of the research.

(from Georgia State University University Library)

On February 22, 2013, the White House released a policy statement in support of open access to federally funded research output, including published scholarship and datasets.

The Memorandum, officially issued by the Director of the Executive Office of Science and Technology, requires that every Federal Agency with R&D expenditures of over $100 million develop a plan to support increased public access to federally funded research.  These plans, to be submitted to the White House within six months, are to include not only long-term preservation measures, but also mechanisms to ensure interoperability and improved access to and dissemination of federally funded research.  While recognizing the services provided by publishers, the President’s plan also suggests a maximum 12-month embargo period for articles in scholarly publications.

(from Georgia State University University Library)

The UC Digital Resource Commons (DRC) is a service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy and for providing access to unique collections; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.

Resources to assist researchers and librarians.