Open Access increases visibility
The open access publication of scientific research results enables free and fast access to scientific information worldwide, increases the visibility, findability and usability of publications and promotes efficient research and innovation.
The starting signal was given in 2011
The starting signal was given in 2011 with a budget of EUR 25.000 for the Open Access Publication Fund. Countless consultations, funding applications and presentations later, the handover of duties to Ms Wurtscheid comes with completely different challenges:
- Open Access has long since become a fixed business model with some pitfalls, which is why the recording of all publication costs by the university library has become a crucial piece of the puzzle for strengthening the position vis-à-vis publishers (cost monitoring).
- One of the current tasks is to establish Diamond Open Access in order to prevent costs from spiralling further. The editors are scientists and their professional societies and no longer the publishers.
- We have already made some progress towards 100 per cent open access, but there is still a long and somewhat uncertain road ahead of us. Keeping this goal firmly in sight and reacting flexibly to the current challenges on the way to realising it will also remain an aspect of our work.
Maren Wurtscheid began her work at University of Stuttgart Library in 2024 in the Open Access Publication Costs project (DFG). With a wealth of experience from her previous positions at the University of Oldenburg and TH Köln as well as her MALIS (Master of Information & Library Sciences) degree, she is now taking over the baton from Stefan Drößler, who will be taking on new tasks and challenges as Deputy Library Director at the University of Tübingen.