Reading assignment (for July 25, 2009)

In a paperless world a new role for academic libraries: providing open access.

Bosc, Helene & Harnad, Stevan. (2004). In a paperless world a new role for academic libraries: providing open access.

http://eprints.ecs.soton.ac.uk/10502/1/boscharnadLP.htm

Abstract
Academic libraries are considered as a research tool in providing open access in this article. It defines Open Access (OA) such as online archives: ArXiv, Cogprints, REPEC etc. are resources in which full-text contents are accessible online, toll-free to all and webwide. Mostly foreign libraries are some of the best examples described here in providing open access like the Southhampton Universitys’ Eprints.org. It is an open source software for creating ... citation-linking and citation-ranking of OA articles. It suggests that libraries are co-evolving with technology and so librarians should collaborate with his/her client.

What I have learned:
1. In connection to the author’s conclusion, open access provision is necessary in order to bolster the growth of research usage and impact of it worldwide.
2. Librarians should create an open access journal directories in library web interfaces.
3. For those libraries who can’t afford to subscribe from research periodicals, it is a bright idea to incorporate an open access resources in their respective academic websites.

Implication/Application:
Although I’m not directly involved in providing open access (system or sources) to users in the library where I am working with, I should have a say about this topic. Today education is not free, so I should promote the open access movement. Why should I go for an expensive journal subscription if there is an alternative way like the open access online journal? Especially if I don’t have the means to get it.