Researcher Support Services

Open Access Week: Open with Purpose, Taking Action to Build Structural Equity and Inclusion

An analysis of master’s theses by Auraria Library revealed it would cost on average more than $2,000 to access resources to write a masters’ thesis if authors didn’t have access to Auraria Library’s resources.

In short, writing scholarly research is expensive. That’s where Auraria Library and Open Access come in.

What Is Open Access? 

Open Access (OA) refers to scholarly research that is online and freely accessible. Without access to a library, you might find paywalls around the scholarly journals you need. Not with Open Access. The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) states, “anyone can access and use these results—to turn ideas into industries and breakthroughs into better lives.” Those looking to publish their research should strongly consider publishing in Open Access journals, taking action to build structural equity and inclusion. 

“Openness can be a powerful tool for building more equitable systems of sharing knowledge. Rebuilding research and scholarship to be open by default presents a unique opportunity to construct a foundation that is fundamentally more equitable.”

Nick Shockey, Director of Programs & Engagement at SPARC, explains.

What is Open Access Week?

Every year during the month of October, SPARC organizes Open Access Week and Auraria Library joins the initiative to raise awareness of Open Access. 

During Open Access Week, libraries and other organizations promote and educate their users on the importance and need for Open Access (OA) research, education, and data. This year, Open Access Week is October 19-25.  

According to SPARC, Open Access Week “is an opportunity for open access advocates to engage their communities to teach them about the potential benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research.”

Why OA Is Important:

  • Access to more research - for free!
  • Share knowledge to create knowledge.
  • Increase research and researcher impact.
  • Assist with compliance of government public access policies.
  • Honor academic freedom and copyright.
  • Connect with more potential collaborators.
  • Gain more citations for research.
  • Increase representation in the field.

Open Access Week 2020: Open with Purpose

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Get Started with Open Access

Kelly McCusker Headshot

Getting started with Open Access can seem intimidating, but Auraria Library librarians and staff are happy to talk with you about publishing your research in an Open Access journal or using Open Access resources in your research.

Contact Kelly McCusker (kelly.mccusker@ucdenver.edu) 
Auraria Library Researcher Support Librarian 

Open Access at Auraria Library 

Auraria Library supports the widest possible dissemination of scholarly research and intellectual output from the three Auraria campus institutions and encourages OA in various ways. To start with, OA is part of our Collections Development Guidelines. The Library also makes OA content available through our discovery systems, including the Start My Research search and our library catalog, Skyline. Additionally, the Library aims to educate the Auraria community about OA resources and publishing opportunities through news items, research consultations, research guides, and workshops. 

OA at Auraria Library FAQ 

How can I find OA materials? 

What are some examples of OA journals accessible from Auraria Library? 

Which OA initiatives and organizations does Auraria Library directly support? 

How can I make my materials OA? 

  • Publish in an OA journal. 
  • Deposit in an OA repository. 
  • Request permission as part of your publishing contract with non- OA journals to be able to submit your article to an OA repository such as the Auraria Institutional Repository. 

 

To Learn More… 

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