Chapter 13: History
Through a discussion of Oldenburg, Newton, Einstein, and Gutenburg, Willinsky uses history to help shape a dialogue about the future of open access. Like those mentioned above who made choices that enabled certain publishing practices, scholars today have the same responsibility. Willinsky argues that “open access is ultimately about the people deciding that there may be a way to extend the circulation of knowledge” (190). Like “self educated Niccolo Tartaglia,” who in 1500 took it upon himself to translate Euclid in order that Italians may have access to the text (192), scholars today should “look up from their work” (206) and take to issues of publication.
In this chapter, Willinsky provides a poignant review of the ways people and institutions have moved the publication industry toward open access. In addition, he makes one final push toward open access as the responsibility of every scholar in some shape or form; after all, scholarship is “vital, ultimately, to the well-being of humanity” (207).