Open access policymaking: roles for academic librarians as “change agents” in research institutions

  • Laura Bowering Mullen Behavioral Sciences Librarian, Rutgers University Libraries, Library of Science and Medicine, Piscataway, NJ, USA 08854
  • Jane Johnson Otto Media and Music Metadata Librarian, Rutgers University Libraries, Technical and Automated Services, Piscataway, NJ, USA 08854

Abstract

Many institutions have voted to pass open access policies.  It has often been stated that a “faculty champion” needs to be identified in order for any policy to move successfully through various university stakeholder groups.  Librarians have been warned not to make open access a “library issue.”  At the same time, academic librarians already possess demonstrated expertise in repository development, have established liaison relationships with departmental faculty, and are most likely to have deep knowledge of scholarly communication and publishing trends.  Librarians can leverage this expertise and experience by taking on open access leadership roles in the wider institution.  Academic librarians can become true change agents in the transformation of institutional scholarly communication practices.  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, working through a small Senate open access subcommittee with librarian leadership provided by the authors, successfully passed an open access policy resolution in October, 2012.

Published
2017-05-19
How to Cite
MULLEN, Laura Bowering; OTTO, Jane Johnson. Open access policymaking: roles for academic librarians as “change agents” in research institutions. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, [S.l.], v. 3, n. 1, p. 295-307, may 2017. ISSN 2241-1925. Available at: <http://78.46.229.148/ojs/index.php/qqml/article/view/139>. Date accessed: 14 nov. 2024.