LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, has published a detailed Action Plan aimed at improving access to and reuse of research results by addressing legal and regulatory challenges surrounding copyright and data rights. The plan responds directly to persistent difficulties researchers face across disciplines in accessing necessary materials—even in an era of growing Open Access and Open Science initiatives.
The initiative builds on the European Commission’s May 2024 study, Improving Access to and Reuse of Research Results, Publications and Data for Scientific Purposes. In response, LIBER, with support from the Knowledge Rights 21 project (funded by Arcadia), convened legal experts and the authors of the EC report to develop a concise, 35-point roadmap. This document translates the report’s 1,200 pages into practical guidance for research libraries, institutions, national stakeholders, and EU-level policymakers.
The Action Plan outlines concrete steps to address legal fragmentation and access limitations that continue to hinder research progress. It reflects concerns voiced directly by researchers who remain unable to legally access or reuse essential research content and data, especially when such resources fall outside the holdings of research libraries or are governed by restrictive licensing frameworks.
The plan’s development was led by LIBER’s Copyright and Legal Matters Working Group and involved extensive consultation across the research library community. An in-person workshop during the LIBER Winter Event in November 2024 and a public consultation in February 2025 shaped the final version, incorporating feedback from across Europe.
By outlining specific actions for both institutional and legislative bodies, LIBER aims to reduce barriers that obstruct research in cultural, social, environmental, and scientific domains. The plan positions libraries not only as access points but as proactive agents in shaping policy and legal frameworks for equitable knowledge dissemination.
Click here to read the original press release.
