Mastodawn

Colorado is a leader in supporting #OER! We highlighted the state's impressive #OpenEducation landscape in our impact story: https://sparcopen.org/impact-story/colorado-open-educational-resources/. More funding was just announced to expand #OpenEd, making #highered more affordable & accessible: https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/colorado-commission-higher-education-approves-1-million-28-open-education-grants-reduce

Colorado’s Continued Commitment to OER Benefits Students Statewide - SPARC

SPARC

SPARC 3d ago

Greetings from the SPARC Steering Committee & SPARC team, together IRL for our annual meeting! We extended a warm welcome to those new to the committee (Josh Bolick, Teresa Lee, Holly Mercer & Camille Thomas) & a fond farewell to our departing members (Chris Bourg, Jonathan Cain, April Hathcock, Yuan Li, Lisa Macklin & Torsten Reimer). We are so thankful for their guidance, expertise & time. https://sparcopen.org/people/#steer

SPARC 4d ago

It was our honor & pleasure to end 2025 together with SPARC members in DC today. The support you’ve shown to one another & our team has sustained us in this challenging year. We've all come out stronger & are committed to continuing our work to advance open practices & be catalysts for change in 2026!

SPARC 4d ago

We look forward to seeing representatives from our SPARC libraries in DC & online for our members-only meeting & reception today, Dec. 10, from 5-7 p.m. Catch up on the latest from the SPARC team. To RSVP, check your email from us & respond. https://sparcopen.org/

SPARC: Setting the Default to Open in Research and Education

SPARC is a global organization committed to making Open the default mode for all research and education, empowering people to solve big problems and make new discoveries through the adoption of Open Access, Open Data, and Open Education.

SPARC

SPARC 5d ago

If you've missed any of our webinars, we have several archived for viewing at your convenience! Learn about basics of #OpenAccess & #OpenEd, #PIDs, #publicaccess funder mandates, #copyright and more here: https://sparcopen.org/our-work/webinar-recordings/

SPARC Webinar Recordings - SPARC

SPARC

SPARC 6d ago

You're invited to weigh in by Dec. 26 on policies to strengthen the U.S. scientific enterprise. The OSTP RFI asks for input on topics related to public access, open data, and ensuring federally-funded research discoveries benefit Americans: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/26/2025-21150/notice-of-request-for-information-accelerating-the-american-scientific-enterprise

Federal Register :: Request Access

SPARC Dec 5

Some good news: IMLS is restoring all federal grants that had been terminated earlier this year. A win for libraries and library organizations across the U.S. https://www.imls.gov/news/statement-agencys-reinstatement-terminated-imls-grants

Statement of Agency’s Reinstatement of Terminated IMLS Grants

Statement of Agency’s Reinstatement of Terminated IMLS Grants Washington, DC– Upon further review, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has reinstated all federal grants. This action supersedes any prior notices which may have been received related to grant termination.

SPARC Dec 4

While inclusive access programs are advertised as a solution, they make it harder for students to make personal choices & fall short on making course materials affordable long-term. Explore the fine print in our contract library: https://sparcopen.org/our-work/automatic-textbook-billing/contract-library/. https://www.inclusiveaccess.org/facts/convenient-or-confined

Textbook Billing Contract Library - SPARC

"Inclusive access" comes with a lot of fine print. Explore the details of more than 70 contracts for automatic textbook billing from U.S. institutions.

SPARC

SPARC Dec 3

Tune in tomorrow, Dec. 4, at 1pm ET to hear SPARC's @hjoseph chat w/ author Samuel Moore about Publishing Beyond the Market, a book about a more ethical, non-commercial approach to #OpenAccess publishing. Sign up for the free @internetarchive event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-talk-publishing-beyond-the-market-tickets-1839631951689

SPARC Dec 2

We're pleased to work with @AuthorsAlliance on publication of this new white paper in the joint Legal Pathways to #OpenAccess project. https://sparcopen.org/news/2025/authors-alliance-and-sparc-federal-grants-and-institutional-ip-policies/

Authors Alliance and SPARC Release Third “Legal Pathways to Open Access” White Paper on Federal Grants and Institutional IP Policies - SPARC

SPARC