The Role of the University of Rijeka Library in the Promotion of Open Science

Abstract

This paper analyses the concept of open science and the role of the University of Rijeka Library in the context of preconditions to implement open science in practice, raising awareness, and conducting scientific research in an open and collaborative way. Promoting advances in science and the dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of society, with development and focus based on relevant national and European Union documents, and strongly supporting the view that scientific information and research data produced in the course of publicly funded scientific activities must have open access, the University of Rijeka adopted the Open Science Policy of the University of Rijeka in September 2021. In order to get actively involved in the implementation of the Open Science Policy, the University of Rijeka Library has established the Centre for Open Science and Management of Scientific Information. The Open Science Centre continuously works on raising awareness and strengthening the knowledge of the University’s research stakeholders about the significance of open scientific information and research data as the key research outcome. Based on a case study of the University of Rijeka Library, the objective of this paper is to present the role of an academic library as an important stakeholder in providing support to open up the entire research process and implementation of open science practices. The article gives a comprehensive overview of the activities carried out by the University of Rijeka Library together with the University of Rijeka to achieve openness of scientific research through the active inclusion of all research stakeholders. This kind of presentation of good practice may serve other academic and university libraries as an example of different ways in which they can foster open science in the environment in which they are active.