April 4, 2014

UOW democratises knowledge with new open access policy

UOW has become one of a handful of universities in Australia to adopt a policy that aims to unlock access to its greatest asset – knowledge.

The new UOW Open Access Policy, which will be launched on Monday 7 April (3pm, Panizzi Room, UOW Library), will allow anyone from anywhere in the world to download academic publications via the University’s Research Online platform.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Judy Raper said the initiative will help break down barriers between researchers and the community by making publications more discoverable and accessible.

“The Open Access Policy encourages immediate, online and free availability of research outputs without restrictions on use, which may be imposed by published copyright agreements,” Professor Raper said.

Each day, around 6,000 UOW publications are downloaded from the University’s Research Online platform, totaling over 7.5 million downloads since 2006, a number set to rise with the roll-out of its new Open Access Policy.

Director of UOW’s Library Services Ms Margie Jantti will spearhead the implementation of the Policy.

“The value placed on open access is reflected in the number of Australian and international universities which already have open access mandates or policies. From a library’s perspective, the free and open discovery of research is central to an informed, innovative and prosperous society,” Ms Jantti said.

The launch will feature keynote addresses from Professor Raper, Ms Jantti and award-winning documentary maker and oral historian Dr Siobhan McHugh, who will take the opportunity to launch a new journal RadioDoc Review, which will be accessible via Research Online.

Media contact: Margie Jantti, Director of Library Services, is available for interview on +61 418 445 791 or margie@uow.edu.au.