2021 Open Access Week

The UMass Amherst Libraries hosted Open Access Week, October 25 to October 29, 2021. This year’s theme was “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity.”

On Tuesday, October 26 at noon, the virtual keynote address, “Our Tools and Our Values,” was delivered by Ethan Zuckerman, associate professor of public policy, communication, and information, and director of the UMass Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure.

His talk examined the contradictions between values-led organizations and the values embedded in the technologies they use. Professor Zuckerman explored ways these conflicts might be resolved. What might a comprehensive digital public infrastructure driven by public values rather than profits look like, and how might it transform the library? How are academic libraries envisioning and engaging to create values-aligned platforms for open scholarly exchange? Martha Fuentes-Bautista, senior lecturer and director of Engaged Research and Learning with the Department of Communication and the School of Public Policy, provided a response, followed by a Q&A with participants.

“The movement towards Open Access and Open Scholarship led by scholars like Ethan Zuckerman provides a counterpoint to the endlessly increasing costs related to education,” says Sarah Hutton, Interim Dean of Libraries. “This access to education and knowledge production further strengthens our support of the Commonwealth—and the common good.”

The Libraries have been celebrating Open Access Week since 2008 and are committed to open scholarship, inclusive of open access, open educational resources and open science. The Libraries work to support and advance diverse and equitable participation in the creation and use of knowledge every day throughout the year.