Open Access Week 2025 runs Oct. 20 to 26.
This October, Leddy Library joins the global academic community in celebrating International Open Access Week (OA Week), Oct. 20 to 26.
OA Week encourages candid conversations about the ways we can create pathways to more equitable knowledge sharing to address the inequities that shape societies and our response to them.
Now in its 18th year, OA Week invites researchers, students and institutions to engage with the theme “Who Owns the Knowledge?”—a powerful call to examine who controls access to scholarly information and how communities can reclaim ownership through open, collaborative practices.
As part of OA Week, Leddy Library will host an Open Access Mini Conference online Friday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 2 p.m.
The Mini Conference will bring together University of Windsor researchers, librarians and experts for a series of fast-paced Open Access Lightning Talks exploring the evolving landscape of open scholarship.
The program will include sessions on open access scholarly publishing, data sharing, digital preservation and student research visibility.
“Open Access is not just about removing paywalls—it’s about removing barriers to participation in knowledge creation,” said Grace Liu, head of Research and Publishing Services at Leddy Library. “When we share our research openly, we empower others to build upon it, innovate, and solve problems that matter to communities around the world.”
Associate University Librarian Tamsin Bacon will open the conference, followed by speakers including Clayton Smith, Grace Liu, Annette Demers, Art Rhyno, Dave Johnston, Berenica Vejvoda and Adam Mulcaster.
The event will close with Pascal Calarco, who will offer a special update on Leddy Library’s participation in the national open institutional repository, Scholaris.
Selinda Berg emphasized the alignment of OA Week with Leddy Library’s mission to advance open knowledge and scholarly collaboration
“Open Access reflects the values of academic libraries including accessibility, equity, inclusivity, stewardship, and collaboration,” said Dr. Berg.
“At Leddy Library, we’re proud to help move this forward, ensuring that the research created at UWindsor can inform, inspire, and impact beyond our campus.”
Visit the Open Access Week webpage for a curated list of international events and to register for the Leddy Library Open Access Mini Conference.