Open Access: the New World of Research Communication
The University of Ottawa Library, in association with the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), hosted a public seminar entitled Open Access: the New World of Research Communication on Wednesday October 10, 2007.
Webcast available 
PowerPoint files:
Kathleen Shearer, CARL Research Associate - The
What’s, How’s and Why’s of ‘Open Access’
Kathleen Shearer moderated the session. In her introduction she deseribed
the origins and goals of Open Access and the barriers that current subcription
models create. Ms. Shearer coordinates the CARL
Institutional Repositories Program and works on Open
Access issues for CARL.
Stephen Choi, MD, FRCPC, Co-Editor, Open Medicine, - Open
Access
Stephen Choi, co-editor of Open Medicine,
spoke on the philosophy and the rationale of Open Access: because published
clinical research informs and determines both practice and health policy,
this literature needs the widest distribution possible. What is more, healthcare
practitioners need full and immediate access to published research so that
they can decide on the best possible treatment for their patients.
Christian Sylvain, Policy, Planning and International Affairs Director,
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) - Open
Access and SSHRC
Christian Sylvain discussed SSHRC’s continuing support for Open Access;
the issues and challenges and possible future actions. He highlighted SSHRC’s
new Aid
to Open-Access Research Journals program.
Professor Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet
and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law - Unlocking
Access
Michael Geist discussed various instances of collaborative knowledge sharing
and dissemination such as Alouette Canada, Creative Commons, and LibriVox
and described ways through which access barriers can be removed. Dr. Geist
is the author of the popular blog Michael
Geist.
Other pertinent documents:
The SPARC Canadian Author Addendum
Open Access: Some Frequently
Asked Questions 
