Current research information systems, open access repositories and libraries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of larger developments in the international research information environment, and to outline their impact on the open access movement within libraries.Design/methodology/approach – A narrative account of recent historical developments such as national current research information systems (CRIS), and their local campus equivalents, together with an analysis of the relationship of these systems with national research policies, and particularly their relationship with research evaluation policy.Findings – Developments in the research landscape have important effects on grass‐roots LIS practice, and have given a great boost to open access repositories while preserving the traditional role of commercial journal publications. This complementary relationship was completely unexpected at the outset of the open access movement, which was specifically intended to reduce the importance of commercial journal publications.Research limitations/implications – Th...