Wrap-Up of Publishers for Development 2013: Exploring the Importance of Research for Global Development | Against-the-Grain.com

"On Oct.15, 2013, INASP and the Association of Commonwealth Universities hosted this year’s Publishers for Development (PfD) meeting at the Charles Darwin House in London. The annual meeting brings together individuals from various stakeholder groups to discuss ways in which libraries, publishers, and higher education can work collaboratively to tackle big, global challenges within the scholarly communication ecosystem. INASP, a UK-based not-for-profit organization with an international focus, works with librarians, publishers, and researchers to 'strengthen access to, production of, and use of knowledge and evidence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.' The ACU, also a not-for-profit organization based out of the UK, is designed to 'address issues in international higher education,' including research production and uptake. This year’s meeting focused on the theme of 'developing a global research cycle which fully engages [the global] south and north”—i.e. issues related to scholarly communication and libraries at a global level such as ensuring access to information, encouraging use of research via electronic journals and the internet, and strengthening the production of new knowledge and research.  Specific topics included ways in which research production and knowledge sharing can contribute to international development goals; how publishers can better support libraries in developing countries; and pilot projects involving libraries or publishers designed to strengthen access to, awareness of, and production of research. The meeting included representatives from Europe, the U.S, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh ..."