USU's University Libraries Celebrates Open Access Week 2012
Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012
Open Access Week, Oct. 22-29, is a global event and University Libraries at Utah State University will participate. Several presentations have been planned during the week at USU. The week’s theme is “Set the Default to Open Access.”
According to the Open Access organization, the annual observance of the week is in its sixth year and the intent is to promote Open Access as “a new norm in scholarship and research.”
Coordinating the activities at USU is Andrew Wesolek, scholarly communications librarian at University Libraries.
“The rise of digital publication has radically altered the system by which we share our ideas with colleagues, as well as the ways in which we conduct research,” Wesolek said. “Despite the reduced costs of digital production, the prices of many scholarly journals continue to rise, often at several times the rate of inflation.”
Wesolek said this situation created access barriers between researchers, colleagues and students. Open access to scholarly materials attempts to eliminate these barriers.
In Open Access Week, USU joins institutions across the globe in celebrating open access publication models that provide faster and broader access to research, thus fostering innovating and ensuring that no researcher’s ability to conduct potentially world-changing research is limited to the scholarly materials he or she has access to, Wesolek said.
University Libraries plans three spotlight activities for the week. While all sessions are intended for the campus community, the presentations are free and open to the public.
The first presentation is Monday, Oct. 22, and is an introduction to the week and the concept of open access. “Open Access 101: What is Open Access and How is it Changing Scholarship?” is presented from 4-5 p.m. at Merrill-Cazier Library, Room 154.
The rise of electronic publication has irrevocably transformed the ways we share research with colleagues. We are now able to share our research faster and more cheaply than ever before. However, although the electronic dissemination of research allows us to dispense with materials, printing and distribution costs, the prices of many scholarly journals have skyrocketed. This situation creates barriers between your research and the researchers who need access to your work. Wesolek will explore the response to this crisis in scholarly communication; specifically, Open Access publication models. The presentation will cover the basics of Open Access, why it is necessary, and how it is transforming scholarly communication. Light Refreshments will be provided.
“The Social Impact of Research: New Modes of Scholarship, New Ways of Publishing,” is presented Tuesday, Oct. 23, Merrill-Cazier Library, Room 154, from 4-6 p.m. Two guests are featured, Johan Bollen, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, and Roger Schonfeld, director of research at Ithaka S+R.
Join us to explore the changing research methods and publication practices of researchers, particularly those in the hard and social sciences. Johan Bollen, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing and Roger Schonfeld, director of research at Ithaka S+R, will discuss the changing role of the traditional journal article, the ways that social media is augmenting the scholarly dialogue, and how changing incentives and publication practices interact to foster scientific innovation. Light refreshments will be provided.
More information on Schonfeld and Bollen can be found online.
The final presentation of the week is Wednesday, Oct. 25, “Understanding your Rights.” The session runs from noon to 1 p.m. at Merrill-Cazier, Room 154.
As a scholar, your publications result from years of effort in research and writing. This scholarship is a valuable contribution to your community, and this value only increases as your work is read and cited. It is in your best interest to understand your copyrights and the possible consequences of transferring ownership of those rights to another party. Learn more about what to look for in the fine print of your agreements before you sign your rights away.
For information on Open Access Week, contact Wesolek, (435) 797-2650.
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Source: University Libraries
Contact: Andrew Wesolek, (435) 797-2650, andrew.wesolek@usu.edu
