The advent of global digital networks now provides authors who write to be read with exciting new options for communicating their ideas broadly. One of these options is open access publishing, where works are made freely available to the public, often with additional reuse rights granted (for example, under a Creative Commons license).

Until very recently, authors who wanted their works to be widely available had little choice but to submit their works to publishers who took assignments of the authors’ copyrights and exercised them according to a proprietary “all rights reserved” model. These traditional publishing models are making way for new and innovative ways of sharing work. While open access publishing is an increasingly available and popular option for authors wanting to reach the broadest possible audience, many authors still have questions about what open access would mean for their work and their careers.

Our open access resources help you understand when open access publishing makes sense for your works, why open access helps authors reach readers and advance knowledge, and how to release your works under open access terms.