Current research information systems, open access repositories and libraries

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to give an overview of larger developments in the international research information environment, and to outline their impact on the open access movement within libraries.Design/methodology/approachA narrative account of recent historical developments such as national current research information systems (CRIS), and their local campus equivalents, together with an analysis of the relationship of these systems with national research policies, and particularly their relationship with research evaluation policy.FindingsDevelopments in the research landscape have important effects on grass‐roots LIS practice, and have given a great boost to open access repositories while preserving the traditional role of commercial journal publications. This complementary relationship was completely unexpected at the outset of the open access movement, which was specifically intended to reduce the importance of commercial journal publications.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an exploration of the relationship between open access and current research information environments. This relationship is of enormous significance and will need to be analysed and better understood in future. The analysis in this paper is thus an initial attempt to increase this understanding, and further, extended investigation is recommended.Practical implicationsPractitioner librarians must come to grips with the role of repositories within the CRIS environment, as well as the relationship of repositories to the local campus research information system.Originality/valueThis paper investigates trends in the broader research information environment which will be unfamiliar to many LIS practitioners, and puts them in the context of everyday professional practice.