UNESCO adopts open access policy

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced Monday, May 15, that it would open up access to its digital publications to everyone without asking for a fee. This open access policy enables UNESCO to have what it calls 'maximum freedom of use of its publications without endangering their viability.' Of this new policy, UNESCO explains that advancements in various fields, whether it be in education, science, or culture, 'are made possible through broad and unfettered access to research and knowledge, enabling policy-makers, researchers, practitioners and the general public to use and build upon this knowledge.' Getting information out to a wider audience, UNESCO notes, is a 'fundamental interest' of the organization. The open access policy will begin in July of 2013 with all future publications. UNESCO is also working retroactively to apply an open access license to its previously published work ..."