Definition of Open Access
Open Access is the free, immediate, online availability of research articles, coupled with the rights to use these articles fully in the digital environment.
- Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)
OA is a way of getting research to as many people as possible without the restrictions of traditional publishing eg. subscription only access, and the lengthy timeframes.
Levels of Open Access
OA is scalable, here is a pamphlet that sets out the degrees of OA, made available via CC from University of Iowa's guide
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What is an institutional repository?
Institutional repositories are digital spaces for presenting and accessing an institution's staff and student research. The purpose is to make this research more accessible for more people. Find more information about institutional repositories at NZCommons.org.nz.
Accessing institutional repositories
Can't access what you want online? Contact our Interlibrary loans team to see if they can source it for you.
Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) is a collaboration between several bodies to represent OA publishers. It is a reliable source. From its website you can access:
Visit the SPARC website for in-depth information on Open Access.