Open access and the impact on publishing and purchasing

Abstract

In the field of academic publishing and the dissemination of researchoutputs, the advent of open access poses big questions. Will it mark the end of traditional journal publishing? How will research made available through open access be accessed by users, and what role will libraries play? What effect will it have on current journal purchasing arrangements? Open access allows authors to make their papers freely available to all, widening access to the outputs of research; this paper describes the open access movement, how the effects of this are being addressed, and what this will mean for publishers, librarians, and intermediaries. Open access is here to stay. It is a relatively immature process, though, and it is up to all parties involved to work togetherand establish new mutually acceptable models of publishing. (Originalabstract)