Sub: Research libraries in an Open Access world, and Repositories of OA books in India Friends, The recording of last month’s OASPA's webinar - *Research libraries in an Open Access world* - may be of interest to all academic and research librarians and those who want the world to embrace open access and realize the full potential of open access and open science. Please visit https://oaspa.org/research-libraries-in-an-open-access-world/?utm_source=OASPA+News&utm_campaign=e63e52a308-Email+announcing+November+webinar_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-381260b022-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D The panelists’ slides and responses to those questions that were not answered live are also available. While there are many OA journals, I am sure you would agree that there is a need to promote open access books and make them easily accessible to all, especially to those pursuing higher education and research. About two or three months ago the famed British Library, one of the world's largest libraries, was hacked. It was a ransomware attack and the library services were paralyzed and the library is still recovering. Huge loss of money, time and prestige. More importantly, thousands of users from far and near suffered in multiple ways, including financially. Read Prof. Edith Hall's blog post at https://edithorial.blogspot.com/2023/12/nine-questions-for-british-librarys..... Incidentally, the British Library is not any public library. A substantial proportion of the Library is devoted to Science, Technology, Medicine, etc. *Ideally, the National Digital Library at IITKh and Inflibnet could host an exclusive open access repository of all the world's * *open access* *academic and research books*. India cannot hope to become a top research nation if our students and researchers do not even have easy access to openly accessible textbooks and research books. One might ask why more than one repository of open access books? Simple. The principle of LOCKSS or Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe. I made a search on the number of OA books available. Google's Bard gave the following answer: Determining the exact number of open access textbooks and academic/research books is challenging due to the dynamic nature of the field and inconsistencies in categorizing resources. However, I can provide some estimates and insights based on reputable sources: Open Access Textbooks: - Estimates: The Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) currently lists over 58,000 open access books, but not all are textbooks specifically for colleges and universities. It's safe to say there are several thousand open access textbooks available, with the number steadily increasing. - Major players: Leading organizations in the open access textbook movement include: - OpenStax: Offers high-quality, peer-reviewed open textbooks in various STEM subjects. - BCcampus Open Ed: Supports the creation and adoption of open educational resources, including textbooks, in British Columbia, Canada. - LibreTexts: A collaborative network developing open textbooks across STEM and social sciences. - Saylor Academy: Provides free, open-source college-level courses and textbooks. - National Academies Press: Publishes open access resources in science, engineering, and medicine. Academic and Research Open Books: - Estimates: Quantifying the total number of open access academic and research books is even more difficult. Many are hosted on diverse platforms and repositories, making them harder to track comprehensively. One can assume the number surpasses open access textbooks but remains difficult to pinpoint. - Major players: Key players in the field of open access academic and research books include: - DOAB: Lists a significant portion of open access academic books, though not exhaustive. - Project Gutenberg: A vast repository of older academic and research books digitized and made available for free. - HighWire Press: Publishes open access journals and books in science, medicine, and technology. - Public Library of Science (PLOS): Offers open access journals and books in life sciences and related fields. - University presses: Many universities are increasingly adopting open access models for their scholarly publications. It's important to note that the open access movement is continuously evolving, and new players and initiatives emerge regularly. Furthermore, the definition of "open access" and its application can vary, making it crucial to consult authoritative sources like DOAB and established repositories for reliable information. I hope this overview provides a helpful starting point for understanding the landscape of open access books in academia. If you have any further questions about specific subjects or resources, feel free to ask! With best wishes. Arun -- Arun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4658 http://www.researcherid.com/rid/B-9925-2009