There seems to be a lot of talk lately about open access when it comes to academic work. Of course, for libraries the question of open access is one of dollars and cents. Can the modern university library continue to operate given the cost of doing so, as it applies to supplying research materials? In the digital humanities, this question of access is central to what we do. According to Georgia State’s library website the benefits of open access are many. Namely, open access grants:

Greater visibility and impact of research
Increased opportunity for collaboration
Easier access to information for anyone
Takes advantage of technology – text mining and the digital environment
Better return on investment for research sponsors
Encourages and enables greater innovation
Faster than traditional publishing
Contributes to education’s mission of advancing knowledge

If all of that is true, what are we doing to ensure that we have open access to our intellectual capital? The full link to the Georgia State University’s Library Open Access Guide is here.