5 Ways JMU Instructors Can Engage with Open Access
Posted October 19, 2021 in JMU Libraries News, Open Education News
Here’s a riddle for you! What can help you to get more readers and citations for your published works, give you unlimited access to high quality, customizable course materials and lower the cost of education for your students?
Open access can.
What is open access?
Open access (OA) refers to information that is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. Journal articles, books, databases, and more can be OA. Because open access materials can be shared freely, OA has the potential to create more equitable and inclusive societies, and that’s something to celebrate!
Celebrate with us!
October 25-31 is the 2021 global celebration of Open Access Week. This year’s theme is “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity”. Read about what this theme means to us at JMU Libraries.
To kick off the week, take a look at the open resources your JMU colleagues are using in their classes!
Here are 5 ways you can engage with open access:
1. Publish open access works
Publishing open access articles can increase citations to your work and broaden your readership! Learn about JMU publisher agreements that can reduce or eliminate article processing charges. You can also share your work in JMU’s Scholarly Commons or create your own open educational resources.
2. Adopt an open textbook this spring
Search for high-quality open textbooks that alleviate the burden of textbook costs for students and allow you to freely share and customize materials for your course. Your liaison librarian can help.
3. Participate in Open Access Week events
See this selection of Open Access Week events or visit the Open Access Week Events page for a full lineup of virtual webinars and other events to celebrate Open Access Week (October 25-31).
4. Advocate for open access where you can
You can influence your discipline by advocating for open access when possible. For example, ask your scholarly society if there are plans to transition the society’s journals to open or check out these other ways of taking OA action.
5. Ask JMU Libraries experts
Yasmeen Shorish and Liz Thompson can advise you on all things open access.
Visit our website to learn more about open access and all the ways we work to provide open educational resources to you and your students.