Rhonda Marker is head, open knowledge strategies, for Rutgers University Libraries.
You’ve probably seen my job title—head, open knowledge strategies—and wondered what it means. My position is new, but it builds on work that many people in the Libraries have been doing for a long time. The short explanation is that my job touches on all things “open” at the Libraries to help our services thrive. Collaboration, leadership, and outreach are woven throughout all facets of my work.
I have several distinct areas of responsibility. For each of these, I’ll summarize my role or give an example of what programs and services I’m responsible for.
Rutgers’ Open Access Policy and Institutional Repository
I’m responsible for increasing awareness of the university’s open access policy and institutional repository, Scholarly Open Access at Rutgers (SOAR). I keep our outreach materials up to date. Presentations and other resources on SOAR for use by library employees are available on the Staff Resources page under Project Outreach Materials. The latest addition is a single PowerPoint slide about SOAR that librarians can download and insert into their presentations about general library services.
Open and Affordable Textbooks (OAT) Program
I coordinate the OAT Program. So much is contained in that simple statement! Through OAT, the Libraries award research funds to Rutgers faculty who redesign their courses to use free or low-cost materials or who create a new open (and free) textbook.
Open Access Publishing
I advise current and potential journal editors and managing editors of the Libraries-hosted open access journals on best practices. All these journals are adding accessibility requirements and implementing workflows to ensure that articles are accessible. They have also begun to articulate their journals’ expectations of how editors, reviewers, and authors can use artificial intelligence tools.
Transformative Agreements
I lead outreach and promotion of open access publishing opportunities through the Libraries’ transformative agreements. I collaborate with others to report on the use of these agreements (e.g., Rutgers units and subject areas). Coming soon: a full presentation and a single slide about our transformative agreements.
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
I provide consultative guidance and programming to help our graduate programs uphold institutional policies and best practices. This year, the emphasis is on ensuring that all submitted electronic theses and dissertations comply with ADA Title II requirements for accessibility.
Open Access Issues (access, ownership, and rights)
I lead the planning of our annual Open Access Week programming. If you couldn’t attend October’s events, check out our recordings of the presentations.
The best part of my work is the opportunity I have to collaborate with so many people. For SOAR, I get to work with Library Applications and Development and Cataloging and Metadata Services. For OAT, I team up with liaisons from all our chancellor-led units, Libraries central offices, and instructors across the university. I’ve included library liaisons in conversations with graduate programs about accessibility. By virtue of my position, I also participate in organizations such as the Big Ten Academic Alliance (with Jeff Carroll, I am a member of the BTAA’s Scholarly Publishing Peer Group), the Library Publishing Coalition, and SPARC’s Coalition of Open Access Policy Institutions (COAPI). Each of these groups is active and grappling with similar issues at our respective institutions.
As the Libraries evolve, so will my role. I’m excited to keep learning and collaborating with you.
