The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) endorses the cOAlition S call to publishers asking for greater clarity and transparency in manuscript submission processes, enabling authors to exercise the right to retain their copyright and to meet Plan S grant obligations for immediate open access (OA) dissemination of their research articles. Urgent global challenges underscore a growing consensus on the benefits of immediate open access. In a time of experimentation with business models to achieve that goal, transparency is critically important for all stakeholders—including funders, research institutions, and their libraries—to make data-informed decisions with the resources they steward. What cOAlition S proposes will also reduce author burden with respect to decision-making and publication workflow as researchers navigate the policy environment to realize immediate OA. In alignment with cOAlition S’s request to publishers, ARL works for optimal institutional and public policies—including a balanced copyright regime—that expand access to knowledge. Our member libraries partner on implementation of those policies in the research ecosystem, including consultation on open licensing, publishing, and other open research practices.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 126 research libraries in Canada and the US whose mission is to advance research, learning, and scholarly communication. The Association fosters the open exchange of ideas and expertise; advances diversity, equity, and inclusion; and pursues advocacy and public policy efforts that reflect the values of the library, scholarly, and higher education communities. ARL forges partnerships and catalyzes the collective efforts of research libraries to enable knowledge creation and to achieve enduring and barrier-free access to information. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
