QScience.com And Qatar National Library Promote Open Access to Peer-Reviewed Research

Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals’ (BQFJ) online publishing platform QScience.com participated in the International Open Access Week in partnership with Qatar National Library (QNL), to enable the academic and research community to learn about the benefits of Open Access (OA).

The event took place at Hamad bin Khalifa University Student Center and saw representatives from QNL, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Library and Information Association Qatar (LIA-Q), and Qatar University Library outline the benefits of OA publishing and its potential expansion in the Middle East with a new repository and Open Access fund. 

BQFJ is a collaboration between Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Bloomsbury Publishing, and supports QF’s mission to build the nation’s innovation and technology capacity. Officials from QScience.com addressed recent open access initiatives and the possibility of providing more open access repositories as well as free, unrestricted online access to peer-reviewed research for regional authors and researchers.

During the event, QScience.com also announced the launch of the Arabic translation of the key book on Open Access, written by Peter Suber, Director of the Harvard Office for Scholarly Communication. The Arabic version of the book, titled ‘Open Access’ – and originally published by MIT Press – is now available on QScience.com

Participants were also given the opportunity to learn more about QNL’s commitment to supporting open access publishing, as well as opportunities for scholars and disciplines across Qatar to publish in open access journals. During the event, Allan Groen, Qatar National Library’s Associate Director for Public Services, announced the launch of the Open Access Author Fund, which pays article processing fees for publication in OA journals. This fund will be available as a pilot project for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. For more information please visit: http://www.qnl.qa/programs-and-services/oaaf.

Commenting on the event, Director of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Arend Küster said: “We believe that the Open Access model helps to unlock research potential in the region and beyond, and are working closely with international collaborators to promote Open Access further.  QScience.com is in its fifth year, and we are convinced that the decision to make our journals Open Access helped to deliver our mission and make this initiative a success for Qatar Foundation. Open Access has since found the support of governments and research funders from all corners of the world.” 

Dr Claudia Lux, Qatar National Library’s Project Director, said: “Open Access aligns with QNL’s mission to spread knowledge, nurture imagination, cultivate creativity, and preserve the nation’s heritage for the future in support of Qatar Foundation’s commitment to foster a sustainable and progressive society through the effective dissemination of knowledge.”

Dr Lux added: “QNL’s partnerships with leading institutions, including the World Digital Library and the British Library, are some examples of the library’s firm commitment to open access in Qatar. Last year the library launched the Qatar Digital Library through which people from anywhere in the world can access thousands of manuscripts and rich archive material about the history of Qatar and the wider region. Furthermore, QNL educates the public about the benefits of open access by organising regular workshops focusing on the effective use of the library’s website and array of online databases.”

About Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc is one of the world’s leading independent publishers. BQFJ is its second partnership with Qatar Foundation, the first Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing whose book publishing programme was launched in April.

About QScience.com
Launched in September 2011, QScience.com is a peer-reviewed online publishing platform that offers a unique and collaborative research environment for scientists in Qatar and the rest of the world. This new platform publishes a range of peer reviewed, high quality, open access journals, databases and repositories which adhere to international publishing standards.
www.QScience.com

About Qatar National Library – Bridging with knowledge Qatar’s and the Arab and Islamic world’s heritage and future
Qatar National Library (QNL) is a non-profit organisation under the umbrella of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF). QNL is supporting Qatar on its journey from a carbon-based economy to knowledge-based economy by providing resources to students, researchers, and the community in Qatar. It was announced in November 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

QNL carries out its mission through three functions: National Library, University and Research Library, and a Metropolitan Public Library of the digital age. The National Library function collects and provides access to global knowledge relevant to Qatar and the region. It also collects, preserves, and provides access to heritage content and materials about Qatar and the region. The University and Research Library function supports education and research at all levels by providing printed and digital library materials for students and researchers. Metropolitan Public Library delivers library services and information for everyone to enjoy reading, meet people, and become information literate.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF) is a private, non-profit organisation that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential, for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world.  Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, QF is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. 

QF’s work encompasses education, research and community development.  World-class universities are brought to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. At the same time, QF builds Qatar's innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercializing solutions through key sciences.  The Foundation also works to foster a progressive society while enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar’s heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.