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In recent times, there has been a lot of debate
on the implementation of Open Access for research publications. Keeping this in
mind, a comprehensive outlook on Open Access and its impact on scientific
community is being provided in this article.
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Open Access should be seen as a means of
accelerating scientific discovery by providing free and unrestricted access of
scientific knowledge via the Internet. An essential role of Open Access is the
long-term preservation of peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles and research
data. Open Access is not only used for journal articles but is also being
implemented to theses, scholarly monographs, and book chapters. Promotion of
Open Access is very crucial to encourage innovation, socio-economic
development, and flow of knowledge around the world. As such, Open Access can
be defined as an instrument ultimately used for public welfare to stimulate the
growth of global science, as well as maintain the quality of scientific
achievements at the same time.
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Restricted access to research findings and
scientific discovery through subscription and pay-per-view journals will only
impede communication through the scientific community. In addition, restricted
access can also hamper the education and dissemination of scientific knowledge
to the aspiring younger generations who are keen to pursue a career in science.
Increased productivity and development of science can only be achieved by
diffusing knowledge and providing the facilities for creating permanent
repositories such as Open Access.
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Through Open Access publications, scientists can
avoid subscription fees and copyright and licensing restrictions to access free
scholarly literature. Since Open Access publishing allows the permanent
restoration of scientific data through digital copies, other than the
constraint of Internet access, scientists around the world can freely share
information and collaborate to enhance the progress of science. Open
Access journals not only give royalty to free literature, but also reduce
costs for paper-copy production, physical storage, and distribution through
digitalized copies.
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The benefits of implementing Open Access are
reaped by many end users, such as, students, researchers, clinicians, patients,
policy makers, and journalists. As long as there is Internet access, people
from all over the world, be it an underdeveloped country in Africa, a developing
country like India or developed countries such as USA or UK, will have
immediate access to latest research findings. Thus, Open Access initiative helps
in unlocking the traditional methods of subscription articles and releasing
information to tertiary level readers, who normally would not have access to
first hand research studies.
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Realizing the potential of Open Access in terms
of greater visibility within and beyond the scientific community, in recent
years, there has been a tremendous boost to Open Access movement through
various Open Access publishers. We are one such publishing group that believes
in this movement and is most ardently working towards the welfare and progress
of scientific community. We are built upon the principles of Open Access and are
determined to provide free and unrestricted access of research articles to
scientists around the world for the advancement of science and technology.