Liber Welcomes Calls for Enhancing Access to Research Results
LIBER welcomes the recent “Improving access to and reuse of research results, publications and data for scientific purposes” study and encourages the Directorate General for Research and Innovation to follow through on the ambition of this study.
LIBER’s mission is to enable world-class research, fostering collaboration in areas such as digital humanities, open access, copyright, and research data management. LIBER members are working at the forefront to support researchers as they struggle to navigate digital legal frameworks as they apply to the results of research and data. This report both highlights the unnecessary complexity of the legislative landscape and provides a valuable overview of the various regulatory frameworks.
Commenting on the study, LIBER President, Mr. Julien Roche said “This is an extremely valuable study that addresses many of the challenges faced by researchers and research libraries. This thorough research identified many of the challenges our members regularly face as they engage in research activity. We commend the authors for drawing these important issues together and suggesting tangible recommendations to move forward.”
Many of the recommendations and suggestions align closely with LIBER’s own activities calling for a legislative environment that fosters and empowers the EU’s commitment to world-class research environment.
We particularly welcome the recognition of a need for an EU-wide secondary publication right as a means to address the barrier of a lack of access to research. LIBER is fully supportive of policy options that allow for the sharing of the version of record (VoR) and reduce or remove embargo periods. LIBER has led the way with the Zero Embargo campaign calling for a harmonised secondary publishing right.
Strengthening open-ended and flexible research exceptions through the introduction of a harmonised and mandatory general exemption for research would help greatly in reducing the complexity posed by the multi-layered legislative regime and lack of interoperability that European researchers must navigate currently.
We welcome any efforts to coordinate legislation that impacts research activity and call on policymakers to continue their efforts to build a continent conducive to excellent research. We stand ready to mobilise our network in support of these timely recommendations.
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LIBER (Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche – Association of European Research Libraries) is the main network for research libraries in Europe. Founded in 1971, the association has grown to include over 400 research libraries in 40 countries. Together we work to represent the interests of European research libraries, their universities, and their researchers in several key areas.
LIBER’s work is guided by strategic cycles. Our strategy for the period 2023-2027 focuses on leading developments to get ahead of radical changes happening in the research landscape. We have identified top driving factors that will affect research libraries and have formulated strategic undertakings to maintain LIBER’s strong position in enabling world-class research.
The five strategic components of the 2023-2027 strategy are:
- Research Libraries as Engaged and Trusted Hubs
- State-Of-The-Art Services
- Advancing Open Science
- Upskilling the Library Workforce
- Upholding Rights & Values.
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This news item was written by the Copyright & Legal Matters Working Group Chairs Alex Fenlon, Susan Reilly and Judith Ludwig in consultation with the LIBER Office and Executive Board.
[Photo by Olia Gozha on Unsplash]