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Re: Open Access in Europe

On 17-Feb-05, at 3:21 PM, Ann Okerson wrote:
The tradition of widest public access in libraries does serve us well
here in the US and Canada, whereas we hear from many traveling
researchers and students that access in/to European libraries is often
very difficult or not generally permitted. Is there a way in which such
libraries could open up access to library premisesmore broadly, to
provide more access to content in both print and "walk-in" electronic? At Yale Library, we have been fortunate to host European library interns
and fellows from time to time and send them home resolutely determined
to change library access conditions in their home countries. Opening up
our libraries in this way would get us away from what seems the unhappy
position of not wanting to pay for research funded by taxpayers, while
those same taxpayers also fund the libraries they can't easily use.

Or is this unrealistic?'
Walk-in access is indeed a wonderful thing. Even in Canada, however,
walk-in access means very unequal access for geographical reasons. It
works well for those in Vancouver, for example, who have ready access to
the collections of several universities, university colleges, and
colleges, along with the well-stocked Vancouver Public Library. Not so
for those in more remote locations - even in southern B.C., a trip to
Vancouver can be an expensive proposition by plane - or a long trip by
road, and a dangerous one in the winter. For the poor, or those with
mobility problems, this is more than difficult, it is impossible. Northern B.C., and the territories, are of course, far more remote.

Walk-in access serves the needs of the few who live near a large
university library. Open access serves anyone with a computer and
internet access.

Final thought: if there is more enthusiasm for OA in Europe, then
enthusiasm must be very high indeed! As there is certainly no lack of
interest in Canada or the U.S.

A personal view by -

Heather G. Morrison
Project Coordinator
BC Electronic Library Network
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phone: 604-268-7001
Fax: 604-291-3023
Email: heatherm@eln.bc.ca
Web: http://www.eln.bc.ca