Working towards the global open access repositories network for a networked scholarship

Use the link to access more information about the poster presentation for the upcoming Berlin Open Access Conference (B10) to be held November 7-8, 2012, Stellenbosch, South Africa.  The  abstract reads as follows: "The Confederation of open access Repositories (COAR) is a young, fast growing association of repository initiatives and networks. COAR unites and represents more than 90 institutions world-wide (Europe, Asia, Latin America, the U.S. and Canada). COAR is, therefore, the only international open access repositories organization, aiming to promote south to south coalitions and exchange of knowledge and best practices between regions worldwide.  COAR mission is to facilitate greater visibility and application of research outputs through global networks of open access repositories based on interoperability and international cooperation.  To fulfill its mission COAR is guided by four strategic directions: 1. To promote the development of a global, sustainable network of open access repositories as key element of the evolving international scientific information infrastructure, including social sciences and humanities, in support of excellence in research and education 2. To provide support for the OA repository community from institutions, countries, regions and disciplines, through international cooperation and information sharing  3. To define and promote interoperability, standards, and infrastructure policies  4. To stimulate the development and take-up of user added-value services on top of the repositories To address these aims, COAR has established three working groups and collaborates with related organizations, initiatives and projects, such as LIBER, EIFL, SPARC, Knowledge Exchange, DRF Japan, LA REFERENCIA in Latin America, the European projects OpenAIRE and OpenAIRE+, EUDAT and the upcoming global Data Web Forum (DWF). The poster presents COAR’s aims, activities and projects in order to promote opportunities for collaboration and presents the benefits of membership in COAR for institutions in developing countries in terms of support, visibility and integration into the global knowledge network."