What is Open Access?

Open Access means that scientific literature is made available free of charge on the internet, while the author's copyrights are protected. Open Access therefore allows the reading and downloading of entire texts and the printing of a private copy. Readers will have no financial, legal, or technical barriers to overcome; internet access is all that is needed. The authors retain their rights to their research work, while the public can freely utilise the publications.HowOpenIsIt? Open-Access-Guide (PDF 3 MB)t Numerous publishing houses allow their authors the use of Open Access, or have their own Open Access strategies. Open Access publications achieve far more visibility and are more likely to be quoted than traditional publications. The German Rectors' Conference, the Wissenschaftsrat, the Standing Conference, the German Research Foundation and the European Commission support this type of publications with increasing emphasis. Comprehensive information on the topic of Open Access can be found on the information platform open-access.net.

Open Access at Göttingen University

Göttingen University (incl. University Medical Center Göttingen) adopted an updated Open Access Policy (PDF 1,9 MB, in German only) in 2016 which "promotes and supports making the research results of its researchers as widely accessible and usable as possible. Open access publications should be used without access restrictions to support research and innovation in science, business and society in a direct and lasting way. Research funders including the German Research Foundation and the European Commission promote Open Access to scientific publications and research data. Mandates, such as the ones of the European Commission and the European Research Council, require all funded projects to publish their results in Open Access. This policy provides recommendations for Open Access at the University of Göttingen and complements the University’s research data policy." This policy replaces the Open Access Resolution (PDF 248 KB) of December 2005. It aligns its Open Access strategies with those of the Max-Planck Institute and other forward-looking universities. Göttingen State and University Library is a central partner in this endeavour, and responsible for the implementation, coordination, and continuation of the strategy within the university.

Göttingen scientists can also use the services of the Göttingen eResearch Alliance. They assist all researchers on the Göttingen Campus with eResearch related questions and data management. Göttingen State and University Library also participates in national and international projects, such as the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR) and OpenAIRE.
The EU Office at Göttingen University offers detailed information about the European Union Open Access Pilot on its web pages.

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