Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship Launches Open Access Lecture Series
Monday, Feb. 29, 2016
MANHATTAN — Open access is more than an academic buzzword: It's a movement driven by scholars, universities and taxpayers intent on the free, online availability of research articles and texts.
To address some of the ways open access affects academia in general and Kansas State University in particular, K-State Libraries' Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship has created the Open Access Lecture Series. The series is co-sponsored by the university's Graduate School.
The series kicks off this spring with a Provost's Lecture featuring Heather Joseph, executive director of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, also known as SPARC, which supports new models for the open sharing of digital articles, data and educational resources. Joseph will speak at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in Hale Library's Hemisphere Room. Under her stewardship, the coalition has become a leading international force for effective open access policies and practices.
In her lecture, "The Power of Open," Joseph will discuss the frequently difficult and expensive process of getting access to textbooks, journal articles and data — and the permissions to use them in meaningful ways. Faculty, students and those who support higher education will gain a more nuanced understanding of how we are all affected by open access to educational materials and research.
The lecture is made possible by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President. A reception will immediately follow the lecture.
Later in March, Molly Kleinman will present "Publishing, Copyright and Open Access: Fundamentals for Graduate Students" at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the Hemisphere Room. Kleinman, a former copyright librarian and current doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher Education, is publisher and open education resources manager at the University of Michigan Medical School. She will provide graduate students with an introduction to copyright and open access, offer ways they can improve access to their work and increase its impact, and deliver a primer on understanding publishing agreements. Kleinman's talk will be followed by a brief overview of resources and services specific to Kansas State University.
The last presentation in the Open Access Lecture Series will be Tuesday, April 26, when leaders from the Open Textbook Networkcome to Kansas State University for a day of workshops geared toward a variety of audiences. The Open Textbook Network is an alliance of higher education institutions committed to improving access, affordability and academic success through the use of open textbooks. Network representatives will address topics from how open textbooks help students to how a Kansas State University faculty member can adopt an open textbook.
The schedule of workshops on April 26 in Hale Library:
• Supporting Open Access Textbooks, 11 a.m. How can open access textbooks work for Kansas State University? The Open Textbook Networks invites instructors, librarians, administrators and tech support staff to learn about the unique obstacles and contributions each role faces.
• Funding Open Access Textbooks, 2 p.m. Past winners of the Kansas State University Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative are invited to share their experiences in adapting and using open and alternative texts in the classroom. Everyone is welcome to attend.
• Identifying Potential Open Access Textbooks, 3:30 p.m. Ready to incorporate an open access textbook in the classroom but not sure where to start? Instructors are invited to explore possible open textbook solutions. Participants can write a short textbook review and receive a $200 stipend for their efforts. Space is limited; participants must apply by March 31. To register, go to www.lib.k-state.edu/open-access-lectures.
Learn more about the Open Access Lecture Series at www.lib.k-state.edu/open-access-lectures.
