Libraries to Promote Open Access Week with Workshops and Documentary Screening
October 3, 2019
Every year, is celebrated internationally to promote the concept of Open Access, or free and immediate access to information for everyone.
Open Access Week is from Oct. 21-27 and will include events at both Alden Library and one of the Athens County Public Libraries, located on 30 Home St. in Athens. During the week, two workshops titled 鈥淚nformation for All鈥 will be hosted at both Alden, Oct. 21 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in room 251, and the Athens Public Library, Oct. 22 from 6-8 p.m. The workshops and their presenters include:
- 鈥淥pen Digital Resources: Archives and Special Collections, Broad and Narrow鈥 by Janet Carleton, Erin Wilson and James Gilmer
- 鈥淭extbook Affordability: The Power of OER鈥 by John Canter and Sherri Saines
- 鈥淥pen to All: Free Resources at the Athens County Public Libraries鈥 by Laura O鈥橬eil
- 鈥淥pen Resources for the Citizen Scientist: Biodiversity Heritage Library and iNaturalist鈥 by Andrew Stuart
- 鈥淟ocal Histories, Digital Collections: Ohio Stories in the Libraries鈥 Digital Archive鈥 by Stacey Lavender
Additionally, a documentary screening will take place in Alden Library room 319 on Oct. 25 from 2-4 p.m. titled, 鈥淧aywall: The Business of Scholarship,鈥 which focuses on the need for open access to research and science.
鈥淥pen Access is sort of a movement to change the model of the way information is distributed, so that the people who need to read and use the information don鈥檛 have to pay for it,鈥 explained Kelly Broughton, assistant dean for research and education services and a member of the Libraries鈥 scholarly communication community of practice team that is planning the events.
This year the group, headed by Araba Dawson-Andoh and consisting of Broughton, Andrew Stuart, John Canter and Janet Hulm, has teamed up with the to coincide with the theme of 鈥淥pen for Whom? Equity in Open Knowledge.鈥
鈥淎side from just the University community, we want everybody from the Athens community to benefit from knowing about such information 鈥 because we are in Southeast Ohio where people don't have resources, so we feel that if we partner with the public library we鈥檒l be able to spread the information to everybody,鈥 said Dawson-Andoh.
In addition to the OHIO Libraries, ACPL supports a wide range of Open Access materials as well, and anyone in Athens, including students, can receive a library card. ACPL offers an eLibrary card as well, which gives immediate access to digital library resources, such as , and .
鈥淎ttendees [of Open Access Week] might also get an idea of how much libraries offer us in today鈥檚 digital world, whether it鈥檚 access to educational resources, free online legal advice, language learning apps or entertainment streaming services,鈥 said Becca Lachman, communication officer of the Athens County Public Libraries. 鈥淸And learn] how much money [they] can potentially save by using a library card.鈥
Open Access Week is in its 10th year of promoting Open Access globally, which covers topics from local and national history, genealogy, music, biodiversity, alternative materials to textbooks, OERs and many more resources. According to Broughton, the Libraries continue to provide 鈥渟upport to faculty looking to integrate OER into their classes using Top Hat, Blackboard and any other delivery platform,鈥 which can help save students money on course materials.
鈥淚鈥檓 personally very passionate about this because I am a First Gen student and I grew up in this area, so I come from an Appalachian background, and I know from experience 鈥 how high textbook costs affect students and their success,鈥 said Canter, subject librarian for the physical sciences and mathematics.
All members of the community are invited to attend the events at both Alden Library and the Athens County Public Library. All events are free and open to the public.