Open Access Policy Update

My presentation at the BCLA Open Access Preconference April 19, 2007, Open Access Policy Update, is now available in E-LIS.

Abstract

This presentation explores the status of open access policy developments internationally, and particularly in Canada, as of April 2007. While open access resources are substantial, and growing rapidly, the primary issue for open access archives (institutional repositories) is content acquisition, and few researchers fully understand open access, illustrating an ongoing need for policy. Open access policy initiatives are happening around the world. Sherpa Juliet lists more than 20 funding agency policies, from at least 10 countries. More than half the policies are by medical research funders. ROARMAP lists at least 40 institutional policies from at least 12 countries. Many more policy initiatives are in the works, such as the European Commission and the U.S. Federal Research Public Access Act. In Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council adopted open access in principle in 2004, and recently initiated an Aid to Open Access Journals program, a one-year bridge program for SSHRC subsidized journals. Genome Canada has a strong open access policy for both published research results and data. Policy development is underway at the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the International Development Research Centre, and the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance.

Watch for more on this very well-received preconference, featuring a number of local British Columbia open access library leaders, Drexel's Jean-Claude Bradley on Open Source Science, and a distance Q & A session with Peter Suber.

Free Online Access to Digital Mapping Data

The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that as of April 1, 2007, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) began making its electronic topographic mapping data available to all users free of charge over the Internet.

"Our Government recognizes the importance of providing Canadians with access to the latest digital mapping information at no cost," said Minister Lunn. "Not only will Canadians now have free access to digital maps, but Canada will be known as an important source for digital mapping data around the world."

Congratulations and thanks to the Honourable Gary Lunn and NRCan for yet another illustration of Canadian Leadership in the Open Access Movement.

Thanks to Olivier Charbonneau.

SSHRC Aid to Open Access Research Journals

Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has announced an Aid to Open Access Research Journals program. This is a one-year program, designed to allow SSHRC to test a new funding model and approach to adjudicating grant applications from research journals, in preparation for the revised research journals support program, which will be launched in 2008-09. The funding model is based on the article as its unit. To qualify for funding, a journal must be peer reviewed, and openly accessible immediately on publication.

Congratulations to SSHRC for another example of Canadian Leadership in the Open Access Movement.