Open Access Resources: Expanding Access to Knowledge in the Digital Age
Access to reliable scholarly information is fundamental to education, research, innovation, and national development. Students, lecturers, researchers, policymakers, and professionals rely on high-quality academic resources to make informed decisions, solve problems, and advance knowledge. Academic libraries play a significant role in providing access to scholarly information, and their contribution has evolved considerably alongside digital technologies and research services. This transformation reflects the broader evolution of academic libraries in research support , where libraries increasingly facilitate access to both subscription-based and open access resources. However, for decades, many scholarly journals, books, conference proceedings, and research databases have remained behind expensive subscription paywalls. These costs often limit access for individuals and institutions, particularly in developing countries where library budgets are constrained. The Open Access (OA) movem...