Open access publishing and access to development in Africa - the vision

Abstract

Open Access Publishing (OAP) is now with us. It has its pros and cons and has been filling some gaps in access to development information for most African researchers and libraries. However there are still some issues to be cleared as to its continued existence as well as what it is expected to do now and in future. This paper gives an overview of OAP including its positives, negatives, unsolved issues and its importance to users in the South. It then discusses the future and expectations of OAP in Africa pertaining to the availability of development information to and from Africa.