Ottawa, Canada, April 23, 2007 – Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is pleased to announce the launch of its Digital Library, the first Open Access Institutional Repository established by a Canadian research-funding organization. The IDRC Digital Library provides full access over the Internet to IDRC’s rich research archive. In addition to making information more freely available, this initiative provides IDRC-funded researchers with a much-needed outlet to publish and showcase their work.
The Digital Library is an institutional repository – a database driven by open source software that makes content freely available through the Internet, permitting users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to information, as long as the source is acknowledged and cited. More than 700 academic institutions and research organizations worldwide have established repositories since 2000, but IDRC is among the first funding agencies to do so.
In addition to making information more freely available, this initiative will enable IDRC-funded researchers to publish and showcase their successes, insights, and expertise. Through the IDRC Digital Library their work will be available, not just to a select few subscribers of journals, but to the entire global research community.
Throughout its 35-year history, IDRC has believed that knowledge must be shared to bring about positive change in some of the world’s poorest countries. Soaring costs of accessing research literature, and difficulties in having research published in traditional journals are restricting the development of research capacity in the developing world.
The Digital Library will help IDRC research partners engage in the international dialogue on important development issues and increase the impact of their research.
“The IDRC Digital Library raises the bar considerably for information sharing,” said Rohinton Medhora, Vice President of Programs at IDRC. “By making sharing and collaboration much easier, the Digital Library will also strengthen IDRC-supported research networks. And by giving all stakeholders equal access, it will make it easier for research results to play a central role in public debate about development issues.”
About IDRC
Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is one of the world’s leading institutions in the generation and application of new knowledge to meet the challenges of international development. For more than 35years, IDRC has worked in close collaboration with researchers from the developing world to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.
For information:
Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé
(+1 613) 236-6163, ext. 2343
[email protected]
