Redefining Impact Through Open Access

Staff Writer | The World Bank | October 18, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Since the World Bank made all its published research freely available online, millions have downloaded and used content from the Open Knowledge Repository.
  • For the second year in a row, the Bank will host the kickoff event for Open Access Week, a global celebration of open access to research. The event will be webcast live on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. ET/19:00 GMT.
  • The World Bank’s Publishing and Knowledge division is looking at ways to measure the development impact of its open access research.

In the 18 months since the World Bank announced its Open Access Policy with the launch of the Open Knowledge Repository, a transformation has taken place in the way the Bank’s published knowledge reaches the public. The frequency and volume of content being accessed doubled from one million downloads in the first year to two million in the subsequent six months. But measuring the impact goes beyond counting downloads and visits.