New Avenue for Reference and Information Services When Most Content is Open Access

Abstract

The increased uptake of open access is having a profound impact on not only the scholarly communication lifecycle in general, but also libraries more specifically. Concurrent key forces at work within this domain, including open infrastructure, expanded definition of repositories, and reinvention of scholarly publishers, are facilitating the ability of end-users to share and discover content independently from the library. If libraries do not examine their current services, they run the risk of becoming increasingly irrelevant to their potential client base, who will bypass libraries and access content directly. However, libraries may choose to adopt a more proactive approach by engaging with users and assisting them to manage not only new sources of potentially valuable information but also their own outputs. Moreover, librarians can add value by providing input to the creation and enhancement of tools that enhance the user’s engagement with open access.