Open Access Week is fast approaching (20–26 October) and this year’s theme, “Who Owns Our Knowledge?”, couldn’t be more timely. As academic librarians, we sit at the intersection of knowledge creation, access, and stewardship. This theme invites us to reflect deeply on the structures that govern scholarly communication and how we, as a community, can help shift the balance toward more equitable and community-driven models.
In a time of increasing disruption—whether technological, political, or economic—this year’s theme challenges us to consider how knowledge is controlled, commodified, and shared. It’s a call to action for librarians, researchers, and institutions to reassert agency over the knowledge we produce and disseminate.
Open Access Australasia will be hosting a series of compelling online panel discussions that delve into the heart of this year’s theme:
- The Politics of Knowledge: Who controls the story and who has access to it?
- Community Ownership: Relation, reciprocity, and responsibility
- Vive la révolution!: Taking our knowledge back
These sessions promise rich dialogue and diverse perspectives. Register for free here and join the conversation.
In the lead-up to Open Access Week, our Research Services Librarians will be running two workshops designed to support researchers and staff:
- Introduction to Open Access Publishing: A primer on the principles, benefits, and challenges of OA publishing.
- How to Deposit in the Open Access Repository: A walkthrough of the institutional repository and how to make your work openly available.
Recordings will be shared with all registrants, so even if you can’t attend live, you won’t miss out.