How To Be Open: Libraries

Libraries are the heart of the scholarly ecosystem, acting as gateways to knowledge and resources for researchers, students, and the public.

This session, led by Dr. Alwaleed Alkhaja, Head of Open Access and Copyright at Qatar National Library, will explore how libraries can embrace and promote Open Science principles, ensuring wider accessibility, transparency, and collaboration in research.

This session will delve into:

• Implementing Open Access Policies: Practical steps for libraries to adopt and enforce open access policies, ensuring that staff and patrons benefit from unrestricted access to information.
• Setting Up Open Access Funds: Guidance on establishing and managing funds dedicated to supporting open access initiatives within libraries.
• Read and Publish Agreements: Insights into negotiating and implementing agreements that facilitate open access publishing, benefiting both researchers and institutions.
• Developing Institutional Repositories: The importance of creating and maintaining repositories that preserve and disseminate scholarly work openly.
• Making Digitised Content Accessible: Strategies for making digitised content available to the public, enhancing the reach and impact of library collections.

The session aims to address the unique opportunities and challenges in the Arab states for achieving various levels of openness in libraries. By discussing these topics, the hope is to empower libraries to become more open, transparent, and collaborative.

This event is ideal for librarians, open access managers, consortium managers, heritage library managers, open science advocates, and repository managers. By bringing together these diverse stakeholders, they aim to foster a collaborative environment that advances the cause of Open Science in the library community.