Open Access international - local systems, cooperative network and visionary infrastructure

Abstract

Within the framework of sustainable operational planning, a large portion of open access activities depends upon decentralized open digital storage sites in libraries and other types of institutional infrastructures. While the content is maintained locally, scientists should, of course, be provided with a global, comprehensive content access. Search engines such as MISTER, BASE or Google Scholar represent at present the first steps in this direction. However, in order to make the most of the potential benefits of a clecentral, cooperative content management, and to establish a homogenous infrastructure, local data storage will need to meet high quality standards. Hence, especially in Europe one finds local systems working cooperatively in regional, national and international networks, as for example DINI in Germany or the European-wide DRIVER. A homogenous data infrastructure which offers open access is the prerequisite for developing surplus functions for scientists via Internet, such as annotations, peer review or revision and publication.