PLoS and SPARC release new "Voices of Open Access" video series

[Jennifer McLennan <jennifer@arl.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2008

CONTACTS:
Liz Allen
Public Library of Science
lallen@plos.org
+1 415 624-1218

Jennifer McLennan
SPARC
jennifer@arl.org
+1 202 296-2296 ext. 121

PLOS AND SPARC RELEASE NEW "VOICES OF OPEN ACCESS" VIDEO SERIES 
Clips describe a rich new world where access to research is open

San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC -- October 14, 2008 -- A new 
video series presents six unique perspectives on the importance 
of Open Access to research across the higher education community 
and beyond. SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic 
Resources Coalition) and the Public Library of Science (PLoS), 
the organizers of the first Open Access Day with Students for 
FreeCulture, today released the series of one-minute videos 
capturing why teachers, patient advocates, librarians, students, 
research funders, and physician scientists are committed to Open 
Access.

The "Voices of Open Access" series defines Open Access as a 
fundamental component of a new system for exchanging scholarly 
research results, where: health is transformed; research outputs 
are maximized to their fullest extent; efficiencies in the 
research process enable faster discoveries; the best science is 
made possible; young people are inspired; access transcends the 
wealth of the institution; cost savings are realized across the 
research process; and medical research conducted for the public 
good is made available to everyone who needs it.

"These short videos vividly bring to life why Open Access matters 
to a broad range of people," said Peter Jerram, Chief Executive 
Officer of PLoS. "From a teacher who used a mouse song to inspire 
her science class to a major funder of scientific research who 
believes that it helps scientists make the discoveries we need to 
improve health. These clips are a much needed resource for this 
growing international movement which now seeks to recruit even 
more members of the general public and the scientific community 
to its cause through Open Access Day, October 14, 2008."

Added Heather Joseph, Executive Director of SPARC, "This series 
speaks to the heart of the broad appeal of Open Access; the new 
opportunities it creates for everyone to benefit from the results 
of science and scholarship."

The series introduces:

* Barbara Stebbins, science teacher at Black Pine Circle School 
in Berkeley
* Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, London, U.K.
* Sharon Terry, CEO and President of the Genetic Alliance, 
Washington, DC
* Ida Sim, Associate Professor and a practicing physician at the 
University of California, San Francisco
* Diane Graves, University Librarian for Trinity University, San 
Antonio
* Andre Brown, PhD student, University of Pennsylvania

The series was created by filmmakers Karen Rustad and Matt 
Agnello.

The videos are available for the public to view, download, and 
repurpose under a CC-BY license at http://www.vimeo.com/oaday08. 
They are also available as a single file for viewing at events.

The Voices of Open Access Series is launched in conjunction with 
the first Open Access Day and the fifth anniversary of the launch 
of PLoS Biology, the flagship biology journal from the Public 
Library of Science. Open Access Day 2008 will help to broaden 
awareness and understanding of Open Access, including recent 
mandates and emerging policies, within the international higher 
education community and the general public. The day will center 
on live broadcast events with leading scientists and will be 
marked by more than 100 campuses in 20 countries. For details, 
visit http://www.openaccessday.org.

#

About the Public Library of Science:

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a nonprofit organization 
of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's 
scientific and medical literature a freely available public 
resource.

Read the FAQs on PLoS and open access 
(http://www.plos.org/about/faq.html#openaccess), find out how the 
PLoS journals are developing new ways of communicating research 
(http://www.plos.org/journals/index.php), and visit the PLoS blog 
(http://www.plos.org/cms/blog/) and Facebook group 
(http://www.facebook.com/pages/PLoSorg/47460995594).

About SPARC:

SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition), 
with SPARC Europe and SPARC Japan, is an international alliance 
of more than 800 academic and research libraries working to 
create a more open system of scholarly communication. SPARC's 
advocacy, educational and publisher partnership programs 
encourage expanded dissemination of research. SPARC is on the Web 
at http://www.arl.org/sparc.

________________________

Jennifer McLennan
Director of Communications
SPARC
(202) 296-2296 ext. 121
(202) 872-0884 Fax