International Open Access Week takes place from 19-25 October 2026, bringing the academic and research community together to explore how knowledge is created, shared and accessed. This year’s theme, “The Cost of Knowledge,” invites us to consider the financial, human and environmental costs of scholarly publishing and the growing inequalities in access to knowledge.
Across CIVICA, our ten university libraries support Open Access and Open Science in different ways, helping students and researchers discover academic resources, explore historical collections and connect with research and expertise beyond their own institutions.
From a curated database of open-access academic resources and the CIVICA OpenAIRE gateway to digitised archival collections and collaborative Open Science communities, these initiatives offer different ways to explore and share knowledge across the alliance.
CIVICA’s Resources and Initiatives
What does the CIVICA Library offer you?
Hear from our librarians and discover how the resources, services and expertise available across CIVICA’s ten university libraries can support your studies and research. From open-access academic resources and e-books to digitised historical collections, training opportunities and Open Science initiatives, explore how you can benefit from knowledge and expertise across the alliance. Read more.
Open Access Database
Explore a curated collection of around 100 open-access academic resources in the social sciences and humanities, selected by CIVICA librarians to support study and research across the alliance. Discover databases, journals, e-books, audiovisual materials and other scholarly resources in multiple languages. Explore here.
OpenAIRE
CIVICA has partnered with OpenAIRE to increase the visibility of research, improve access to Open Science results and facilitate collaboration between its member institutions. Explore here.
Open Access Archives
Discover the extensive archival and digital collections from CIVICA institutions offering unique insights into social, political and economic history. These resources include a wide range of open access content available to everyone, as well as rare documents for research, covering themes such as women’s rights, European integration and the evolution of social sciences. Explore here.
Open Science Communities
CIVICA’s Open Science communities bring libraries and researchers together to share expertise, encourage collaboration and promote more transparent and accessible research practices across the alliance. Explore here.