Open Access Primer: Issues and Resources « The Idaho Librarian

"The Open Access publishing model has both matured and struggled over the last decade. The nature of how people produce and distribute information is changing and the world of academic publishing is no exception.  Proponents of Open Access (OA) advocate the movement’s ability to deliver scholarly research more efficiently and to a broader audience than ever before.  Open Access also offers a potential alternative to the rising subscription costs associated with traditional publishers, making it appealing to librarians and academic administrators. Opponents raise questions about the quality of research and peer-review being done in OA publications (particularly in self-identified open access journals.) There are also concerns of profits being taken from traditional publishers and questions about copyright ownership. There is also confusion over what exactly OA is. 'Open' is a word often invoked to describe a variety of ideologically aligned, but separate movements, such as Open Source, Open Data and Open Government. These movements share a common thread of the internet and the opportunities it provides to exchange information freely and more efficiently.  However, these ideas are also distinct, often having very different goals. Muddling the terminology associated with each of them leads to misunderstandings and in some cases resistance. This article aims to serve as a brief, but not exhaustive, primer on Open Access, along with a discussion of a few issues contributing to the confusion of the campaign’s goals. Finally, the article includes Open Access information resources available for authors, librarians and other interested parties."