NEW! CARL Fund for Advancing Open Access Book Publishing
CARL has launched a new two-year pilot program (2026–2027) to increase the number of open access scholarly books published by Canadian presses through research library support. Developed by CARL’s Advancing Research Committee in collaboration with the Association of Canadian University Presses (ACUP), the fund provides $4,000 per eligible book to ACUP member presses to help offset publishing costs.
The program aims to support a diverse and equitable publishing landscape, with broad distribution across presses of different sizes, regions, and linguistic communities, including a target of approximately 20% of funded works in French. For more information about the program, including the selection process and eligibility criteria, please see the full program description below.
Applications to the 2026 (Year 1) program will be accepted between April 1 and April 30, 2026. Interested ACUP member presses are invited to complete the application form below and submit it to Elizabeth Kalbfleisch, CARL Senior Program Officer, at .
- CARL Comments on the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (2025)
- Towards Open Scholarship: A Canadian Research and Academic Library Action Plan to 2025 (2023)
- Investments in Open: Canadian Research Libraries’ Expenditures on Services, Staff, and Infrastructures in Support of Open Scholarship (2020)
- Advancing Open: Views from Scholarly Communications Practitioners (2020)
- CARL and CRKN Support the University of California in Taking a Bold Stand for Openly Available Research (2019)
- Library Open Access Funds in Canada: Review and Recommendations (2015)
- Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications: Quick Answers (2015)
- Position Statement on Open Access (2013)
- CARL Response to the Consultation on the Draft Tri-Agency Open Access Policy (2013)
- CARL Open Access Flyer (2012)
- Implementing Open Access: Report of the CARL-CRKN Open Access Working Group (2012)
- CARL Open Access Backgrounder (2010)
News – Open Access
What is Open Access?
Open access (OA) is a model of scholarly communication that makes research outputs freely available online, without charge and with minimal copyright restrictions, while ensuring authors receive proper attribution. OA increases the visibility, accessibility, and impact of research, and supports equitable access to knowledge.
CARL’s Commitment to Open Access
CARL has affirmed its commitment to open access through its Position Statement on Open Access (2013) and by endorsing key international declarations, including the Budapest Open Access Initiative and the Berlin Declaration. CARL also supports the implementation of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications and works to engage and inform researchers on the benefits of open access.
In 2023, together with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN), CARL developed Towards Open Scholarship: A Canadian Research and Academic Library Action Plan to 2025, a coordinated, multi-pronged strategy to advance equitable access to knowledge and support the evolving needs of the research community.
Institutional Open Access Policy Template and Toolkit
CARL’s Institutional Open Access Policy Template and Toolkit (2020) is designed to support first efforts to create an institution-wide policy. It can also be helpful in developing faculty- or department-specific policies, or in expanding an institution’s existing policies.
-> Access the Institutional Open Access Policy Template and Toolkit
Institutional Open Access Policies and Supports
Many institutions worldwide have adopted open access policies or mandates that require or strongly encourage researchers to make their publications openly available, often through institutional repositories. These policies play an important role in advancing access to research and supporting open scholarship.
CARL member libraries also provide a range of services to support open access publishing, including guidance on publishing options, repository services, and, in some cases, funding programs such as author funds. For the most current and detailed information, please consult the scholarly communications librarian at your institution.
National Members
Library and Archives Canada: Theses Canada | Open Data from LAC
Western Members
Simon Fraser University Library | Author Support $ | Public Knowledge Project
University of Alberta Libraries
University of British Columbia | Author Support $
University of Calgary Library | Open Access | Author Support $
University of Manitoba Libraries
University of Regina | Author Support $
University of Saskatchewan Library | Open Access
University of Victoria Libraries | Author Support $
Ontario Members
Brock University Library | Open Access | Author Support $
Carleton University Library | Open Access | Author Support $
McMaster University Library
Queen’s University Library
Ryerson University Library and Archives | Author Support $
University of Guelph Library | Author Support $
University of Ottawa Library | Author Support $
University of Toronto Libraries | Author Support $
University of Waterloo | Open Access
University of Windsor
Western University Libraries | Author Support $
York University Libraries | Open Access | Author Support $
Quebec Members
Bibliothèques de l’Université de Montréal (French only)
Concordia University Libraries | Author Support $
McGill Library
Université de Sherbrooke (French only)
Université du Québec à Montréal (French only)
Université Laval | Open Access (French only)
Atlantic Members
Dalhousie Libraries | Open Access | Author Support $ (see “Author Processing Charges”)
Memorial University | Author fund $
University of New Brunswick