Frequently asked questions

Open Access means research is free to read online—no paywalls, no subscriptions.

Why it matters

• Fair access. Anyone can read research, not just people at universities
• More impact. OA articles are easier to to find, read, and cite
• Faster progress. Sharing research freely speeds up discovery and collaboration
• Community benefit. Helps engage the public, professionals, and policymakers
• Global equity. Supports access across countries and institutions

Types of Open Access

• Gold OA. Free to read, but authors usually pay to publish (APCs)
• Diamond/Platinum OA. Free for both readers and authors (no APCs)
• Green OA. Authors post a free version in a repository (may be delayed)
• Hybrid OA. A mix: some articles are free, others behind a paywall

Find out more about Open Access:

• Visit the Library’s Open Scholarship page to explore your options and get support.
• Learn how to limit your LibrarySearch results to Open Access items
• Check out the Library's curated list of Open Access databases to find more places to search for open access publications