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news.library.ualberta.ca
  • HOME
  • About
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    • Five Things You Need to Know About the Library
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    • Cinq choses à savoir sur la bibliothèque

Staff

    Community-Based Ownership of Knowledge and Open Journals at UAL

    by Guest Author October 21, 2025
    written by Guest Author

    International Open Access Week (October 20-25) 2025 asks us to consider, “Who Owns Our Knowledge?” As Canada’s largest library-based open publisher, the University of Alberta Library takes this question seriously, and our Open Publishing team continues to support academic communities with an open journals program that hosts more than 80 diamond open access (OA) journals. Our journals’ contents are available immediately, free-of-charge to everyone, and contributors retain their copyright in published articles. 

    As an open publisher, we are committed to a values-based and community-centred approach to journal publishing and are intentional about supporting scholarly communities and modes of expression that have traditionally been marginalized. Some of our journals publish on interdisciplinary subjects and on topics of interest to local, regional, or specialized communities. Their authors may face systemic barriers to publication and at least sixteen of our current journals publish in languages other than English. In contrast to some commercial publishers, our journals retain autonomy over their editorial decision-making, submission and peer review processes, and the structure of their editorial teams and boards. In contrast to typical practices in commercial academic publishing more broadly, authors are not charged processing or publishing fees. 

    How do diamond open access journals operate if they do not charge any fees?

    There are many different models for funding diamond open access journals. Our journals use a few different methods, depending on their size and resources.

    All our journals (including student journals) have editorial boards that guide the peer review and publishing process, based on ethical community standards and best practices. Like most editors in both commercial and non-profit scholarly publishing, members of these boards are often employed by post-secondary institutions. 

    Some journals are also funded through scholarly associations or academic departments, either through direct financial support or through the labour of members.

    Journals are also supported by the Library’s Open Publishing team through a wide range of services, including access to technical infrastructure, guidance and training in editorial practices and policies, support for indexing, and preservation processes that enable broad dissemination and long-term access to their published content.

    The Library team can also help journals apply for various funding grants and other programs. This includes government grants, as well as opportunities to have works disseminated by scholarly databases that pay a royalty to journals for their contributions. 

    How do you get involved with and/or support open access publishing?

    There are many ways to support diamond open access publishing. You can read and share what’s published; educate others about community-based open publishing; recognize U of A faculty, students, and staff that are involved in open publishing; and advocate for increased institutional support in policy and funding. 

    If you are a researcher planning for publication, consider diamond open access options, one of the open access options described on the Publishing Open Access section of the Library website. 

    If you are a faculty member who is looking to work in an editorial capacity or as a peer reviewer, consider a diamond open access journal rather than a commercial one. In this way, your time and labour can help us grow the open scholarly publishing environment.
    To get directly involved with our journals, you can reach out to them directly and volunteer, or submit your work. Students can also contribute to or work directly with student journals by serving on editorial boards or as reviewers.


    Many thanks to Mahira Hassan and the Open Publishing and Scholarly Communications Teams for co-authoring this post.

    This content is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons licence.

    October 21, 2025 0 comment
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  • Célébrer la recherche ouverte par le personnel de la bibliothèque : un tour d’horizon pour la Semaine du libre accès 2025

    by Guest Author October 20, 2025
    by Guest Author October 20, 2025

    À la bibliothèque de l’Université de l’Alberta, nous promouvons depuis de nombreuses années le libre accès du public à la recherche, à l’enseignement et aux ressources pédagogiques. En réduisant les obstacles pour les lecteurs et les auteurs potentiels, nous contribuons à créer un environnement plus équitable en matière de connaissances, tant sur le campus que dans la communauté au sens large. En tant que chercheurs nous-mêmes, nous sommes également fiers de partager…

  • Celebrating Open Scholarship from Library Staff: A Roundup for Open Access Week 2025

    by Guest Author October 20, 2025
    by Guest Author October 20, 2025

    Here at the University of Alberta Library, we have been advocating for unrestricted public access to research, teaching, and learning materials for many years. By reducing the barriers for potential readers and authors alike, we contribute to a more equitable knowledge environment both on campus and in the wider community. As researchers ourselves, we also take pride in sharing our works openly whenever possible. This often means publishing our work in open…

  • Celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Sperber Library

    by Elisabet Ingibergsson October 2, 2025
    by Elisabet Ingibergsson October 2, 2025

    Two years ago, the Geoffrey + Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library opened its doors, creating a bright and welcoming space for our campus community. In celebration this special “Sperberversay” we’re taking a look back at some of the news highlights from the past year. Your New Favourite Study Spot? (August 2025) The library space itself has been a star of the past year’s story. We were thrilled to see the recent article…

  • Unpacking the Newspaper Digitization Process: A Case Study of The Western Review

    by Guest Author July 14, 2025
    by Guest Author July 14, 2025

    Have you ever wondered how local political ads have evolved? Or explored historical newspapers to find old relatives’ bowling groups, or marriage announcements? Have you enquired about the cost of a gallon of milk in your town in 1965? Questions like these arise when considering the significance of newspaper digitization. The Drayton Valley Newspaper project The Drayton Valley Newspaper project began in 2023 when Sandra Blades of the Drayton Valley Museum contacted…

  • Convocation Spotlight: Celebrating our Student Library Staff

    by Meghan Staal June 16, 2025
    by Meghan Staal June 16, 2025

    We’re thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of our incredible student library staff graduating this year. These talented individuals have balanced their studies with their roles at the University of Alberta Library, immensely contributing to the university community through their skills, hard work, and enthusiasm.  To celebrate their achievements, we asked our graduating student library staff to reflect on their time at the University of Alberta Library, share their proudest moments, and offer…

  • International Archives Week: A Look Inside the U of A Archives

    by Guest Author June 9, 2025
    by Guest Author June 9, 2025

    The University of Alberta Archives is proud to join a global movement for accessibility by being represented linked on the International Council on Archives’ #ArchivesAreAccessible Map. This demonstrates our dedication to ensuring archives are open, inclusive, and available to all. In honour of International Archives Week June 9-13, 2025, we invited Amy Kamel to share her reflections of her work at the University of Alberta Archives as a Student Assistant.  A daydreamer…

  • Preserving Born-Digital Records at the University of Alberta Archives

    by Guest Author November 7, 2024
    by Guest Author November 7, 2024

    Happy World Digital Preservation Day! On the first Thursday of November, the international community of digital archivists, librarians, curators, creators, users, and everyone interested in or responsible for the preservation of digital records celebrates World Digital Preservation Day (#WDPD). The 2024 theme is Preserving Our Digital Content: Celebrating Communities. The WDPD is the initiative of the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC). It allows us to connect with colleagues and like-minded people and “celebrate…

  • Days of Action: Journée mondiale de la santé mentale avec Heather Ritz

    by Guest Author October 9, 2024
    by Guest Author October 9, 2024

    Dans le cadre de la sensibilisation aux Days of Action at the University of Alberta, la bibliothèque a invité Heather Ritz, assistante sociale communautaire auprès de Wellness Supports à partager ses réflexions ainsi que des ressources à explorer à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la santé mentale, le 10 octobre. Prendre soin de soi Je vis dans une maison de location et le fait d’avoir un jardin me manque beaucoup. Cet…

  • Library Website Brand Alignment Project

    by Guest Author September 12, 2024
    by Guest Author September 12, 2024

    The University of Alberta Library website got a major refresh with a new look and feel that aligns with the university’s web style and brand standards. Overview Until very recently, the Library website looked very different from the rest of the University of Alberta sites. Library staff have maintained the site independently for many years, which has evolved organically to serve the library’s complex and unique needs. The challenge However, it was…

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The University of Alberta is situated on traditional Treaty 6 territory and homeland of the Métis peoples. Amiskwaciwâskahikan / ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ / Edmonton


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