Libraries to host open access publishing panel

Ohio University Libraries will host a virtual panel on open access publishing on Wednesday, March 23, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. The discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Neil Romanosky, the dean of University Libraries, and will be free and open to the public on Microsoft Teams. 

Open access publishing is a way of sharing scholarly materials immediately and freely available to the public. Open access not only increases equitable access to information by eliminating barriers to materials, such as paywalls, but also increases the reach of academic research as the content is made freely available online. 

“I am excited to learn about the impact of open access on practitioners of various types,” Romanosky said. “Libraries, publishers, funding agencies and practitioners all play a part in advancing a more open and equitable research and information landscape.”

Speaking on the Libraries’ panel are Dr. Thomas Gibbs, superintendent of the Athens City School District; Dr. Evan Harris, assistant professor in social work; and Dr. Danielle Feeney, assistant professor of instruction. 

Dr. Chris Guder, subject librarian for education and one of the organizers of the panel discussion, is particularly interested in the practitioner component. 

“There’s an idea that as we leave higher education, we [will] still need to continuously educate ourselves,” Guder said. “So, what impact does open access have on that process? That’s interesting to me, thinking about people like nurses, teachers, social workers and really anybody who is practicing a profession but doesn’t have access to all the resources they need.”

John Canter, subject librarian for the physical sciences and mathematics, also helped organize the event and noted the importance of open access publishing for those looking to publish their research or creative materials. 

"As a librarian, I have never really ever encountered another librarian who didn't want to give as much information and knowledge, as easily and unfettered as possible to our patrons,” Canter said. “And my hope is that faculty and administrators from the University will attend this panel session and learn more about the importance of open access publishing.”

The event will also help promote the OHIO Open Library, the Libraries’ publicly accessible open access repository providing global exposure to research materials and creative works created by students, faculty and staff at Ohio University. OHIO Open Library helps the Libraries further its mission of connecting scholars globally to the information and knowledge that they need. 

“At a time when we’ve all witnessed the grave and very real impacts of mis- and disinformation, it is more important than ever to make research— especially research that is publicly funded— openly available to the public in a timely and equitable way,” Romanosky said. 

The open access publishing panel is free and open to the public on Microsoft Teams. For more information about the event, or to request accessibility accommodations, please contact Jen Harvey, library events coordinator.