What is open access?

This article by Charles W. Bailey Jr. is now a decade old, but it gives a thoughtful, and comprehensive, overview of the philosophy behind OA; something that often gets lost in the current climate of mandates, funding for ‘gold’ OA, and policy implementation.  Peter Suber’s reading of the initial concept of OA, which Bailey quotes, is probably the one still used most often today when advocating open access to scholarly research:

‘OA removes both price and permission barriers’.

Bailey’s point that open access is a concept that is ‘still evolving’ is as true today as it was in 2006, but it’s important we don’t lose sight of the underlying motivation for providing OA.

Open Access

Open Access

 

 

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