2017 Charleston Library Conference

The role of libraries in Open Access publishing is shifting from purchasing content to helping researchers in the publication process. It is of the greatest importance for all stakeholders to understanding the full potential impact, from the planning of a project (for APC funding applications, for example) to post-publication, demonstrating the full reach and significance of the published work.

It is of course relatively straightforward to check and audit metrics relating to book and journal content which is purchased or subscribed to. However, the full value of Open Access publications in terms of impact is much harder for librarians and publishers to evaluate. Simply quantifying download metrics for OA journals and books is one thing, but going forward evaluating what statistics actually signify in terms of readership, citation, (re)usage and sharing is much harder, as is the manner in which impact is recorded and reported. How can real impact factors and success criteria be assessed when dealing with OA content?

Thinking through the opportunities and challenges of collecting and managing usage data; working collaboratively with publishers and research funders to develop new tools and standards for mapping and reporting on the true value of Open Access content; these are key to growth and sustainability in the Open Access environment. The panel will explore the current state of play and innovation in this field.