A Victory for Open Access at Harvard

Harvard's Arts & Sciences Faculty has adopted the proposed open access policy in regard to its scholarly articles. This is terrific news for those who care about the dissemination of research beyond those who can afford to pay for it.

Here is the beginning of the statement submitted today:

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University is committed to disseminating the fruits of its research and scholarship as widely as possible. In keeping with that commitment, the Faculty adopts the following policy: Each Faculty member grants to the President and Fellows of Harvard College permission to make available his or her scholarly articles.

Thanks to Peter Suber of Open Access News for providing this text. (For the full-text, click here.)

This is a potentially momentous decision. What is important is that faculty not opt-out (which of course they are free to do), and that other faculties across the country be encouraged to follow suit.