CARL at 50: Advancing Open Access to Knowledge
October 21, 2026 – Research is most powerful when its findings can be shared, discovered, and put to use. Open access (OA) makes scholarly research freely available online, reducing financial barriers to knowledge and helping research reach more people. It supports discovery and innovation, strengthens teaching and learning, and helps ensure that the benefits of publicly funded research can be shared more equitably across society.
For decades, the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) has championed open access as an essential part of a more equitable and accessible scholarly communication system.
A Longstanding Commitment to Openness
CARL’s commitment to open access dates back to the early years of the international OA movement. In 2002, CARL became an original signatory of the Budapest Open Access Initiative, affirming its support for making scholarly research freely available to readers. In 2011, CARL signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, further reinforcing its commitment to open access internationally.
CARL also advanced awareness and practical support through educational resources, advocacy campaigns, and events, including its participation in International Open Access Week and the development of resources to help researchers understand their publishing options and retain rights to their work. Some of these can be found on our Open Access page.
In 2009, CARL became a founding member of the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR), supporting international collaboration to strengthen repository infrastructure and advance open access. CARL also worked with the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) to establish a joint Open Access Working Group, which published Implementing Open Access in 2012, offering recommendations for advancing open access in Canada.
In 2013, CARL formalized its Position Statement on Open Access outlining the benefits of open access for research, innovation, education, and society. It also contributed to national policy discussions, including consultations on the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications, recognizing the important role research libraries play in helping researchers make their work openly available.
From Advocacy to Action
CARL has continued to translate its commitment into practical support for Canada’s research community. Its initiatives have included:
- Supporting institutional policies: CARL’s Institutional Open Access Policy Template and Toolkit (2020) helps institutions develop or strengthen policies that support open access.
- Building a coordinated approach to open scholarship: In 2023, CARL and CRKN developed Towards Open Scholarship: A Canadian Research and Academic Library Action Plan to 2025, setting out a collaborative approach to advancing equitable access to knowledge.
- Strengthening the research ecosystem: CARL has published several reports examining research libraries’ investments in open scholarship infrastructure, services, and staffing, as well as the perspectives of scholarly communications practitioners. These can be found on our Publications page.
Investing in the Future of Open Access
In 2026, CARL introduced Advancing Open Science: CARL Pillars for Action and Engagement (2026–2027), outlining priorities for advancing open science and strengthening collaboration across Canada’s research library community.
As part of this work, CARL launched the Fund for Advancing Open Access Book Publishing, a two-year pilot designed to support Canadian university presses in making more scholarly books available in open access by offsetting publishing costs for eligible titles with library funds.
Most recently, CARL welcomed the release of the Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications (2026), which requires publicly funded, peer-reviewed research articles to be made freely available immediately upon publication. The policy recognizes the essential role of research libraries in supporting open access through institutional repositories and trusted Canadian platforms.
Advancing Research Libraries Together
As CARL celebrates 50 years of collaboration and leadership, its history of open access advocacy demonstrates the vital role research libraries play in expanding access to knowledge. From early international advocacy and collaborative working groups to practical policy tools, publishing support, and national policy engagement, CARL continues to work toward a scholarly communication system that better serves researchers, learners, and society.
This Open Access Week, we celebrate the progress made and recognize the work that remains to ensure knowledge can be accessed, shared, and used by all.
