Open access plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission of the United Nations by democratizing knowledge, promoting inclusivity, and driving global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we continue to work toward a more equitable and just world, the expansion and support of open access are vital to ensuring that knowledge flows freely and that the benefits of scientific and intellectual advancements reach all people, leaving no one behind.
“Open Access is not an end in itself, but a means to further ends, above all, to the equity, quality, sustainability, and usability of research.” (BOAI20) Melissa Hagemann has been on the forefront of the Access to Knowledge movement for over twenty years, and will present the movement, its history and where we are today.
The Annual UN Accelerator Award for Libraries was presented during the event.