Open access refers to online research outputs that are free of all restrictions on access (e.g., access tolls) and free of many restrictions on use (e.g. certain copyright and license restrictions). Open access can be applied to all forms of published research output, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed academic journal articles, conference papers, theses, book chapters, course syllabi. 

In a recent article
 

Resources of Interest:

• SPARC
• RightToResearch.org
• For a glimpse at some of the current discussion around Open Access see "Academic review promotion and tenure documents promote a view of open access that is at odds with the wider academic community", blog post article on the work of Juan Pablo Alperin, Esteban Morales and Erin McKiernan at The London School of Economics and Political Science, 7/17/19