Managing Open Access Costs : Exploring the Impact on University Library Collection Devel-opment and Service Offerings

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impact of open access costs on university library collection develop-ment and service offerings, specifically focusing on the major changes resulting from the Open Science movement as identified by library officers. It aims to provide insights into the challenges faced by university libraries in managing open access costs and the strategies employed to overcome them.The central research question addressed in this thesis is: What major changes do library officers identify in library offerings as a result of the Open Science movement?The thesis utilizes collection development theory as a framework to evaluate and manage library collections. Ad-ditionally, the theory explores the challenges associated with open access costs and the strategies employed by libraries to address them.The thesis employs an interview-based approach to gather data and insights from eight librarians and library of-ficers. These interviews aim to capture the perceptions of library officers regarding the impact of open access costs on collection development and service offerings. The analysis explores the strategies implemented by libraries to manage open access costs and assesses the sustainability of open access funding models. The study also compares the experiences of small and large libraries to identify any differences in strategies employed and challenges faced.The primary material used in this thesis consists of interview transcripts from the eight librarians and library of-ficers. These interviews provide valuable qualitative data on their perspectives, experiences, and strategies related to open access costs and their impact on library offerings