This document discusses open access and LIASA's support of open access initiatives in South Africa. It provides an overview of LIASA, the challenges to accessing information, and the evolution and benefits of open access. LIASA is committed to promoting open access and contributing to the development of open access policies and frameworks in South Africa to help ensure all people have access to information.

1. Our Virtual Librarians Never Sleep!
Open Access : a building block in development
Segametsi Molawa
17 October 2014

2. Our Virtual Librarians Never Sleep!
•About LIASA
•Right of access to information
•Challenges to access
•About open access
•LIASA in support of open access
•Way forward
•Conclusion
Contents

3. LIASA is a professional non-profit organisation, uniting and representing all institutions and people working in libraries and information services in South Africa.

4. •It strives to unite, develop and empower all people in the library and information field into an organisation that provides dynamic leadership in transforming, developing and sustaining library and information services for all people in South Africa
About LIASA

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•The 21st century is an era of digital information and a move of libraries from building collections to creation of connections to information.
•Access to information is crucial and is a source of wealth and power, making better people, more efficient and effective workers, and more responsive and responsible citizens.
Information is key

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•Libraries are there to eradicate illiteracy and build an information literate citizenry
•Librarians are the custodians of information and should facilitate access
LIASA connecting the pieces

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LIASA as National Association of Library and Information sector, takes interest in the challenges and development of Libraries and librarians across the sector that has:
•Public libraries
•School libraries
•Special libraries
•Research libraries
•Academic libraries
LIASA connecting the pieces

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•Emphasizing the importance of the Library and Information Services Sector as an integral part of the knowledge economy, and sustainable development;
•Emphasizing, further, the importance of the sector in redressing historical inequalities, poverty eradication, social cohesion and growing the economy;
LIASA’s focus

9. Core of LIS

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•The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Bill of Rights recognizes access to information as a human right;
Right to access information

11. •Even if the right of access to information can make a difference in development, access is not automatic:
•Rise in the cost of e-journals
•Reduced library budgets impact data and information access negatively
•Research impact is critical-Need for high exposure of research
•IT challenges
•Huge information and knowledge divide “Haves and not-haves”
Challenges to access information

12. •Various attempts were made by interested parties to have open access to information
•Institutional repositories were started but focusing on individual organisations
•Free online journal Psycholoquy was launched in 1989
Evolution to open access

13. •1990 Free online peer-reviewed e-journal of communication was launched
•1997 Medline database became open access
•2002 Open Knowledge Network launched in Africa
•22 October 2003 Berlin declaration on Open Access launched. Visit the SciELO website http://blog.scielo.org/en/2013/10/21/the- evolution-of-open-access-a-brief-history/
Evolution to open access

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Role players in Open Access
Publishers
Sponsors

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•The significance of each role player differs from one sector to the other
•Some sponsors recommend that an Open Access platform be used for publication
Role players in Open Access

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•Technology- Internet access
•Skilled staff- Training
•User education- Raise awareness Directory of Open Access Journals – DOAJ - http://doaj.org/ The Directory of Open Access Repositories – OpenDOAR - http://www.opendoar.org/ Directory of Open Acces Books – DOAB - http://www.doabooks.org/
Requirements for Open Access

17. •Users gain access to information sources and publications that they didn’t buy or subscribe to. No library in the world can have all information sources.
• Special schemes giving access to scholarly journals at a discounted price or for free.
•Sustainable development becomes a reality when people are informed
•More innovation with increased access to ground breaking research
Benefits of Open Access

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•The Green route- Put the publication into an Open Access repository and adhere to the rules of the publisher. If the embargo clause is built in, only title and citation can be added, no link to source till embargo is lifted.
•Gold route- Has two models, total open access and combination of subscribed and Open Access.
Two main routes of Open Access publication

19. How open is open?
•Open Access does not imply free.
•The author pays, the end user gains access
•Copyright challenges- At times authors sign their copyrights off.
•Predatory publishers challenge the authenticity of the publications.

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•Access to publicly published research is enjoyed by all, provided the technology is available
• Access to a wider scope of information sources through open repositories.
How open is open?

21. •LIASA signed the Berlin declaration that advocates open access
•Has adopted Open Access as one of its corporate projects to be celebrated annually during the International Open Access week 20- 25 October.
•At the 80th IFLA conference (August 2014) in Lyon, LIASA further signed the Lyon declaration in support of Access to information and development.
LIASA in support of Open Access

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•In its contribution to the LIS transformation through the charter and National Council of Library and Information Services (NCLIS), LIASA will be a role player in the Development & implementation of the national policy framework on free and open access to information
•Be available to contribute to the government’s initiative of National licencing led by ASSAF,
Way forward

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•Embrace the paradigm shift and reskill the LIS practitioners
•Continuing education to proactively handle the dynamic issues of Open Access
•Knowledge sharing in the LIS sector and with relevant stakeholders
•Inculcating softer issues to uphold professional working relationship among all role players (Trust, honesty, credibility, integrity and others)
Way forward continued

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•Pay attention and give support to each sub- sector of LIS as the open access challenges facing each of them have different dynamics.
•Keeping abreast and raising awareness in the sector of relevant legislation impacting on access to information.
•Fully support the implementation of the LIS transformation charter.
Way forward continued

25. •LIASA is committed to contribute to the development of an educated and a well informed Nation.
•It is also committed to development through information and is thus positioning LIS properly within the National Development plan to ensure that the goals set are achieved.
•Open Access will contribute towards getting the poor and marginalised groups to access information.
Conclusion

26. Wearing my LIASA President cap, I wish all the organisations hosting Open Access events next week, a great success!

27. Segametsi Molawa
Tel: +27 (0) 12 302 2935
smolawa@hsrc.ac.za