14 · SPEC Kit 300
From selection to promotion, the libraries’ pro-
cesses for OA resources are largely the same as for
other library materials. Often, collection develop-
ment policies do not address OA literature spe-
cifically, though a few respondents plan to update
their policies to do so. In most libraries the selectors
and the selection criteria are the same as for other
materials, especially other electronic resources.
Cataloging methods and staff are also largely
the same for OA resources as for other electronic
resources. Most of the responding libraries down-
load OCLC records, create original, full catalog re-
cords, or acquire records from Serials Solutions or
other third parties. Some, however, harvest XML
metadata to create catalog records, or use records
created by publishers, authors, or local electronic
management systems. Typically, they use a MARC
field to identify these resources as open access. For
link checking, many libraries rely on a data pro-
vider such as Serials Solutions, but some use third-
party or locally developed software.
In addition to providing links to a variety of
externally hosted OA resources, the responding li-
braries also host a wide range of OA resources on
their own servers. These resources include digital
collections and archives, pre-publication material,
lectures, primary source material, finding aids, the-
ses and dissertations, grey literature, Web sites, and
databases, as well as journals. As with print col-
lections, the libraries provide storage, access, and
maintenance for these local digital collections.
The most common place to list OA resources is
the library’s primary finding aid, the OPAC. They
also can be found along with other electronic re-
sources on Web pages, in open URL resolvers, and
in other third-party title lists or portals. Of course,
locally hosted resources are often found directly by
searching institutional repositories.
While most libraries promote OA recourses in
the same ways as other resources, many of the re-
sponding libraries are actively educating faculty
and students about open access and other issues
in scholarly communication and make a point of
introducing this relatively new type of resource
through Web sites, newsletters, campus forums,
flyers, and blogs. Efforts are made to provide intro-
ductory material on open access as well as portals
for further research participation or utilization of
open access materials. Some institutions also in-
clude detailed information on their Web sites about
journals’ author fees and any institutional support
or discounts available for authors who publish in
open access journals.
While OA titles are fully integrated into many
libraries’ procedures for selection, processing, and
promotion, and typically are treated no differently
than any other material, in a few libraries, time
constraints prevent them from assigning a signifi-
cant priority to OA resources instead they focus on
their purchased resources.
Regardless of whether they choose to distinguish
between open access and traditional, subscription-
supported resources when selecting, processing,
and promoting materials, ARL member libraries
have embraced open access resources and integrat-
ed them into their existing workflows. Providing
access to these resources lends support to the open
access movement and serves students, faculty, and
staff by connecting them to an important body of
high quality scholarly output.
From selection to promotion, the libraries’ pro-
cesses for OA resources are largely the same as for
other library materials. Often, collection develop-
ment policies do not address OA literature spe-
cifically, though a few respondents plan to update
their policies to do so. In most libraries the selectors
and the selection criteria are the same as for other
materials, especially other electronic resources.
Cataloging methods and staff are also largely
the same for OA resources as for other electronic
resources. Most of the responding libraries down-
load OCLC records, create original, full catalog re-
cords, or acquire records from Serials Solutions or
other third parties. Some, however, harvest XML
metadata to create catalog records, or use records
created by publishers, authors, or local electronic
management systems. Typically, they use a MARC
field to identify these resources as open access. For
link checking, many libraries rely on a data pro-
vider such as Serials Solutions, but some use third-
party or locally developed software.
In addition to providing links to a variety of
externally hosted OA resources, the responding li-
braries also host a wide range of OA resources on
their own servers. These resources include digital
collections and archives, pre-publication material,
lectures, primary source material, finding aids, the-
ses and dissertations, grey literature, Web sites, and
databases, as well as journals. As with print col-
lections, the libraries provide storage, access, and
maintenance for these local digital collections.
The most common place to list OA resources is
the library’s primary finding aid, the OPAC. They
also can be found along with other electronic re-
sources on Web pages, in open URL resolvers, and
in other third-party title lists or portals. Of course,
locally hosted resources are often found directly by
searching institutional repositories.
While most libraries promote OA recourses in
the same ways as other resources, many of the re-
sponding libraries are actively educating faculty
and students about open access and other issues
in scholarly communication and make a point of
introducing this relatively new type of resource
through Web sites, newsletters, campus forums,
flyers, and blogs. Efforts are made to provide intro-
ductory material on open access as well as portals
for further research participation or utilization of
open access materials. Some institutions also in-
clude detailed information on their Web sites about
journals’ author fees and any institutional support
or discounts available for authors who publish in
open access journals.
While OA titles are fully integrated into many
libraries’ procedures for selection, processing, and
promotion, and typically are treated no differently
than any other material, in a few libraries, time
constraints prevent them from assigning a signifi-
cant priority to OA resources instead they focus on
their purchased resources.
Regardless of whether they choose to distinguish
between open access and traditional, subscription-
supported resources when selecting, processing,
and promoting materials, ARL member libraries
have embraced open access resources and integrat-
ed them into their existing workflows. Providing
access to these resources lends support to the open
access movement and serves students, faculty, and
staff by connecting them to an important body of
high quality scholarly output.
