35 participants from Al-AHLIYA College University – Bethlehem, Al Haq for Human Rights library, Al-Quds University, Al-Quds Open University, An-Najah National University, the Arab American University, Bethlehem University, Birzeit University (Law Library, Institute of Women Studies Library, Birzeit University Main Library, Computer Centre and Dean of Graduate Studies), Hebron University, Palestine Polytechnic University and Palestine Technical University (Khadoori) participated in the Open Access: Maximising Research Impact workshop at Birzeit University Library organised by Palestinian Library and Information Consortium (PALICO), Birzeit University Library, Telemark University College Library, Norway, and eIFL.net in celebration of Jerusalem Capital of Arab Culture in 2009.

Workshop presentations and materials and photos from the group discussion are here.

Birzeit university library in Palestine, Tromsø university library and Telemark university college library in Norway have decided to work together to promote the development and establishment of an open research repository for theses and scientific publications from Birzeit University. The workshop participants discussed this project implementation as well as possibilities of launching a shared repository for research from Palestine. Open access is a viable solution to existing problems in the scholarly communication – this statement is especially relevant in Palestine where geographical barriers, walls and checkpoints are a restriction to movement.