This year, Access to Research celebrates its ten-year anniversary. The service, which is provided by Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS), offers free, walk-in access to over 40 million academic articles in participating public libraries across the UK. A partnership between the publishing industry and the library sector, over the past ten years Access to Research has helped highlight the importance of libraries to local communities and enabled users to access a vast array of cutting-edge, trusted research from some of the world’s leading academic publishers, including the latest scientific developments in the fight against climate change. This Green Libraries Week 2024, which runs from 7 to 13 October and is organised by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), PLS is proud to celebrate not only a decade of Access to Research but also the contribution that public libraries make to their communities and their efforts to support sustainability and climate action.

Access to Research was founded in response to recommendations made by the Finch Group, a UK government committee that sought to improve access to publicly funded research. PLS created the service in partnership with the Publishers Association, Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP), and Libraries Connected. Since its launch, the online service delivery tool has been kindly provided free of charge by technology company ProQuest. The service has continued to grow since its inception and as of September 2024, it is available in over 99% of public libraries across the UK, with 21 major publishers participating in the service. In the last year, over 150,000 searches have been made by users on a broad range of topics, from Victorian history to the latest medical research.

Access to Research has been a successful partnership between publishing and libraries, that bolsters the range of services made available by local libraries to their communities. Local libraries are vital social spaces that serve as centres of learning, community cooperation, and personal development. They enable the public to access an incredible range of information free of charge and connect those who wish to know more about certain subjects with highly knowledgeable librarians who can direct them to the most pertinent material.

Users from all backgrounds, regions, and ages can benefit from Access to Research. The results from PLS’ most recent user survey show that the service is popular in all demographics, with full-time students and retirees both making up around 20% of our overall user base. This is what some users have had to say about the service:

Andrew from Whitley Bay said: “[Access to Research] is an excellent service for those of us who have no access to an academic library as it makes available a wide range of scholarly papers that would otherwise be inaccessible to us. My own research – and I’m sure that of my students, too – would be much the poorer without it”.

One anonymous user from Leeds said: “Access to Research is an invaluable resource for my studies in nineteenth-century British literature and history. The platform provides access to a wide range of scholarly articles and journals that are essential for deepening my understanding of the Victorian era, from literary analysis to social and cultural history. As a researcher/learner, having access to such a vast collection of academic resources allows me to engage with the most current research in my field, enriching my current and future projects”.

Isobel Hunter, Chief Executive of Libraries Connected: “We’re proud to support Access to Research, a vital service that brings millions of articles from leading academic journals to students, researchers and the general public. Over the last 10 years it has gone from strength to strength, bridging the gap between academic and public libraries and bringing world class research to local library users. Public libraries have always strived to bring learning, information and knowledge to as wide an audience as possible – Access to Research has proved itself a crucial tool in that mission”.

Wayne Sime, Chief Executive of ALPSP: “Access to Research has been a critical service in promoting open access to academic and scientific literature through UK public libraries over the past decade. The service has been instrumental in democratising knowledge, allowing people without institutional access to benefit from cutting-edge research, particularly in fields such as environmental science, which aligns with the themes of Green Libraries Week.

For the publishing industry, Access to Research has helped expand readership and visibility for academic content. It has encouraged broader engagement with scientific knowledge, bridging the gap between researchers and the public, which is essential for advancing informed discussions on pressing global challenges like climate change and sustainability”.

Dan Conway, Chief Executive of Publishers Association: “We value the Access to Research initiative as it provides crucial access to millions of academic articles, supporting the invaluable role that public libraries play in offering knowledge to everyone. This service empowers creatives, researchers, and students alike by offering free access to content that fuels innovation and inspiration. Access to Research strengthens the creative industries and helps foster a culture of lifelong learning across the UK”.

Tom West, Chief Executive of Publishers’ Licensing Services: “As an organisation committed to enabling access to knowledge and information, PLS is honoured to have had the responsibility of delivering this valuable and inclusive service to the UK public over the past decade. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated public library staff across the country, whose daily engagement has been instrumental in bringing this service to the forefront, and of course to the publishers, whose support from day one has been crucial to this initiative's success.

We are excited to continue working closely with libraries, publishers, and other partners to deliver the service in the years ahead”.

 

If you would like to learn more about the service and how it can help with your research needs, please visit the Access to Research website or email the team at accesstoresearch@pls.org.uk.

About Publishers’ Licensing Services

Publishers' Licensing Services (PLS) is a non-profit organisation that has provided rights and licensing services to the publishing industry since 1981. PLS’ primary remit is to oversee collective licensing in the UK for book, journal, magazine, and website copying. PLS provides a range of rights management services to publishers, including the Rights and Licensing Hub and the award-winning PLSclear service. In 2022/23, PLS distributed more than £43 million in collective licensing revenue to over 4,500 publishers.

About the Publishers Association

The Publishers Association is a trade organisation that has represented the interests of book, journal, and electronic publishers in the UK since 1896. The PA exists to champion publishing to the wider world and to provide their more than 140 members with the connections and resources they need to thrive.

About the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers

ALPSP is an international trade association which supports and represents not-for-profit organisations that publish scholarly and professional content. ALPSP offers a variety of services to their 320 member organisations, including a mentorship scheme and training programmes.

About Libraries Connected

Libraries Connected is a membership body for public library services in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Libraries Connected has worked to promote the value of libraries, share best practice, and drive innovation in the sector since it was founded in 2011.

Media Contact

Publishers’ Licensing Services
Will Crook
Head of Policy and Communications
w.crook@pls.org.uk 
07739706823