ARLIS_JOURNAL_VOL_40-4


40 / 4   2015

3

Editor’s Note
This special issue of Art Libraries Journal is about 
Open Access to research in arts and design, and how 
arts librarians can and do contribute to Open Access 
for the arts.

As Open Access becomes part of the landscape of 
research and scholarly communications, librarians 
involved supporting researchers and in providing 
access to primary research in arts (whether text or 
practice-based) are increasingly called on to support 
this important change in scholarly communications. 
Despite the prominence and popularity of Open 
Access (featuring on the front pages of national 
newspapers, debated at the highest levels of 
government, and pervading the scholarly press) 
there are relatively few resources tailored specifi cally 
to arts research and arts librarians supporting 
research, and those that exist are becoming outdated. 

The issue is opened with Watkins’ article, an 
introduction to the principles of Open Access, 

and why arts librarians should participate, from a 
North American perspective. There is a briefi ng on 
licensing for open access resources from Tate; other 
articles provide specifi c instances of arts librarians 
working for OA, with case studies from institutions 
in Europe and Australia; and fi nally there is a 
contribution from a digital humanities researcher 
attempting to access open arts resources.

Working for Open Access within a paradigm of 
scholarly communications devised by and for the 
sciences can be an isolating experience. In this issue 
we hope to raise awareness of OA, share sources of 
information, help forge networks between those 
of us working in this area, and support future 
initiatives. 

Stephanie Meece
Guest Editor, Art Libraries Journal