The Open Access movement has been, and continues to be, fueled by the low cost of distribution through information and communications technologies such as the World Wide Web to which the broader public has had widespread access since the 1990’s.

Open access (OA) is the practice of providing unrestricted access via the Internet to peer-reviewed scholarly research. It is most commonly applied to scholarly journal articles, but it is also increasingly being provided to theses, book chapters, and scholarly monographs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_access

DK, the CPUT Institutional Repository, is an online Open Access repository.

What does Open Access mean for me?

At its’ most basic level Open Access is directed at increasing access to peer-reviewed scholarly research at no cost.  Free access to research can change lives, especially in the developing world where resources are severely limited.  This is especially true where potentially life-changing research remains out of reach when payment is required.

For students, researchers and the general public Open Access also allows access to vast research resources that enhance further research and development.  Publishing in Open Access journals and repositories also increases visibility of the research materials which can lead to increased citation.

The following two links to videos on You Tube explain Open Access as well as the benefits of Open Access:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Jh_GffRPU&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAGEqqjL5TA

DK can be accessed at the following URL:

http://digitalknowledge.cput.ac.za/xmlui/

DK is administered by the Institutional Repository Librarian Mr MP Snyders (snydersmp@cput.ac.za)