Library Basics

What is OA?

Open access (OA) generally refers to freely available digital online information and often describes scholarly journal articles. It also encompasses open data, open resources, and open science. OA journals and articles can and often follow the same rules as peer-reviewed journals.

Why OA?

Open access is an option for articles because it brings the option for more articles to the Library databases for your research. OA articles are articles that make it easier and faster for researchers to publish their findings faster and to get timely research. These articles are also make it easier for more people to cite the articles as the article is open for people to access.

Some things to think about when using OA

Just like every source, make sure:

• You are checking for bias in the journal or the OA portal that your access your article from
  • How to evaluate your sources, check our guide here
• You are citing your article(s) accordingly
  • How to cite, check our guide here
• You are checking for peer-reviewed article(s) and source(s)
• You are checking for editing issues or publishing issues
  • This is a sign that the publisher or journal may not be as reputable

You cite OA articles and resources just as you would any other source. For help, check out our guide by clicking here.