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Open Access

Explore information about library resources and services that support open access publishing.

Overview

This guide provides up-to-date information about resources and services available at the University of Michigan that support open access publishing. It is one of several guides that address policies, resources, and services that impact open research and scholarship at the University of Michigan. Providing open access to research publications and data is increasingly a common practice in many disciplines.

Open access materials are available online for everyone to read for free. Open access is a concept often associated with a growing range of ways of sharing scholarly or creative work -- from open source software to open educational resources. Open access is an approach to sharing work with the world; it is not defined by a particular business model or type of content. Typically, open access materials:

  • May be freely remixed, used, and reused without permission or fees

  • Are available for use and sharing without copyright and licensing restrictions -- making it easier to use and reuse research like published literature and supporting data

  • Help authors to share their scholarship globally through wide dissemination 

  • Emphasize integrity and transparency 

  • Are typically cited and circulated at higher rates than scholarship that is not available openly

Where can I find help?

Explore the links below to learn more about U-M and resources and services that can help you produce open access research and scholarship.

For help, please contact a library specialist in your discipline or our Ask a Librarian service.