US Petition for Public Access to Research

Momentum for public access to publicly-funded research was boosted last month with the celebration of a National Day of Action by students across the United States (orchestrated by freeculture.org) and the presentation of over 21,000 individual and organizational signatures to the European Commission urging the adoption of policies to encourage open access to research.

Now in the US, several leading American organizations – representing researchers, libraries, health groups, students, and consumers – are jointly supporting a Petition for Public Access to Publicly Funded Research.

The petition, which is open to supporters around the world, will demonstrate clearly to policymakers the depth and breadth of support for public access to federally-funded research in the US. As lawmakers consider policies and legislation to advance public access, it is critical that supporters step forward and be counted.

Even if you signed the European petition, it’s important that you sign the US petition as well. Here’s why:

* The European Commission petition was written explicitly to support public access to research publications in Europe.

* The US petition is written to support public access to research funded by the US government as well as the reintroduction and passage of the Federal Research Public Access Act.

* The U.S. petition collects state-specific information, which is essential to making the case for public access to individual lawmakers.

The Petition for “Public Access to Publicly Funded Research in the United States” is open to individuals and organizations of all types. If you are a researcher whose work is funded by the federal government, your signature is especially important because it shows that you want your work to be shared and used.

Please distribute this message and invite your colleagues and friends to sign the petition so that as much progress as possible may be made in the 110th Congress.