Abstract

Open Access Champions at University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is located in Orlando, Florida and is a member of the State University System of Florida. It is the country's second largest university by total enrollment (60,810) with 52,532 undergraduates, 8,278 postgraduates, and an academic staff of nearly 2,000. The university offers over 200 degree options through thirteen colleges and twelve satellite campuses throughout Central Florida. (Please see Acknowledgements below)

How does an academic library go about growing its own Scholarly Communication (SC) program with no budget, no staff, no dedicated office space, no partners, and no experience? The University of Central Florida Libraries responded to such a challenge during 2012-15 by creating a grassroots SC program staffed by a volunteer 20-member library staff advisory group.

The group began its work by creating an innovative “Research Lifecycle” model to help define an evolving menu of scholarly communication resources and services that could be turned on, when available, to UCF constituents.

Other steps to achieving success included creating a “Publishing in the Academy” workshop series with the College of Graduate Studies,  a Grants Writing workshop series with the Office of Research and Commercialization, and a strong slate of academic faculty “Open Access Champions.” 

During spring 2013 planning for UCF Libraries’ “Open Access Week 2013,” the UCF Scholarly Communication library staff advisory group began their deliberations by asking themselves how best to get academic faculty involved.  They pondered the following questions with regard to Open Access:

Once the UCF Scholarly Communication library staff advisory group decided to go forward with their “Open Access Champions” idea, the next question was "What would be the best way to identify academic faculty willing to serve as Open Access Champions?"  Their answer……why not ask UCF’s  new Subject Librarians to get involved.

Several events involved UCF Open Access Champions:

How librarians can help researchers navigate open access choices – webinar synopsis and Q&A

Social Media for Academics: Promoting Your Research, Creating Community and Increasing Access

Watch the recording of Kimberly Voss’ presentation on Social Media for Academics online

UCF Open Access Champions Meet and Greet

ASERL's Open Access Week Chat with Peter Suber 

Several presentations given by UCF Open Access Champions:

The UCF Libraries’  grassroots Scholarly Communication program proved to be so successful  (2012-2015) that in 2015 UCF Libraries received a UCF Technology Fee award to finance a bepress “Digital Commons” institutional repository and also received funding to hire a full-time Scholarly Communication Librarian (instead of Officer.) 

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The Open Access Champions initiative is still very much in existence.  As part of a new initiative to increase academic faculty involvement with the Scholarly Communication Office, a new Scholarly Communication Faculty Advisory Board has been created that includes eleven UCF academic faculty members.  Several of the original “Open Access Champions” are now members of this new advisory board. 

Anderson, N. (2015) With 54,000 students and growing, University of Central Florida storms higher ed.  The Washington Post

 

University of Central Florida. Institutional Knowledge Management Office. (2015)  2014-2015 Common Data Set

Retrieved October 7, 2015 from https://ikm.ucf.edu/files/2015/07/Common-Data-Set-2014-2015.pdf 

 

University of Central Florida Libraries. (2015) Scholarly Communication [web page]. Retrieved October 7, 2015 from http://library.ucf.edu/about/departments/scholarly-communication/

UCF Libraries’ Staff who assisted with Open Access ChampionsBarry Baker, Director, University of Central Florida Libraries.

Dr. Penny Beile, Associate Director, Information Services /Scholarly Communication, University of Central Florida Libraries.

Cynthia Dancel, Senior Art Specialist, Information Services/Scholarly Communication Division, University of Central Florida Libraries.

Lee Dotson, Digital Initiatives Librarian, Information Technology and  Digital Initiatives, University of Central Florida Libraries.

Davina Hovanec, Technical Assistant, Information Technology and Digital Initiatives, University of Central Florida Libraries.

Barbara Tierney, Head, Research & Information Services, University of Central Florida Libraries.

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Dr. Bruce Janz,           Philosophy Dept. (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Mark Kamrath      English Dept.      (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Peter Larson          History Dept.     (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Barry Mauer          English Dept.    (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Rudy McDaniel    (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Joyce Nutta           Teaching, Learning, & Leadership (College of Education & Human Performance).

Dr Maria Santana        Women’s Studies Program (College of Arts & Humanities)

Dr. Kim Voss              Communication, Nicholson School of

Dr. Chrysalis Wright   Regional Campuses – UCF South Lake

In 2014, the American Library Association LLAMA Division named the University of Central Florida Libraries the 2014 Best of Show Award Winner for their “Open Access Week 2013 Wall Exhibit” which featured large color posters of UCF Open Access Champions, in  the main foyer of the John C. Hitt Library. https://www.flickr.com/photos/prxchange-awards/14462670891/