University libraries and public libraries: collaborate to provide access to information for all

CTICC-Terrace Room

University libraries all over the world have managed to acquire access to large databases of scientific information. And many have set up repositories as ‘green road open access’ to assure free access to their own published academic output. And in order to pave the way for ‘golden road open access’ in the longer term.

How could these efforts also be profitable for public libraries? Many of them are targeting their services to new user groups. Like professionals in many disciplines, who would be very interested to be able to get access to academic information via the public library?

And even the general public, being the traditional public library user, has a growing interest in academic information. University libraries could address access for a general public already during their negotiations with publishers.

At the same time public libraries could profile themselves towards university libraries as a stepping stone to reach a broader audience and fulfil the demand in academia to create more social and economic value with their scientific results.

When looking at technical university libraries the public library could be used as an easy entrance to get more people interested in technical sciences and as a means to attract more students. The public library will develop into a natural channel for these efforts when both types of library will learn to collaborate more.