Professional Library & Information Associations Should Rise to the Challenge of Promoting Open Access and Lead by Example

摘要

Librarians and library associations have an opportunity to be leaders in the open access movement, thus championing one of the most core of librarianship's values, access to information. Taking action is as simple as asking our library associations to make as many of our own publications openly accessible as possible. Opening up access to our literature is the most effective means of advancing the practice of librarianship. There are benefits for library staff and key stakeholders everywhere, the library association, and individual authors. A number of library associations have already made the switch to open access, including the Medical Library Association, the Oregon Library Association, the Washington Library Association, and PNLA, to name a few. Library associations that have traditionally published journals or newsletters as a benefit for members will find this relatively easy. Associations that have already made their publications open access are reporting either no change in membership or increased membership. There will be more challenges where associations rely on subscription and advertising revenue from journals to support association activities. Even in this situation, the importance of an accessible scholarly literature is such that it is worth the effort to find the means to support open access. To facilitate global cooperation, librarians can ask their associations to support the IFLA Statement on Open Access to Scholarly Literature and Research Documentation. Library associations can educate members about the possibilities for opening up access to articles already published, through self-archiving.