Libraries on quicksand in search of a stable and sustainable scholarly environment Giannis Tsakonas Library & Information Center, University of Patras LIBER Executive Board | HEAL-Link Board of Directors @gtsakonas ICOLC 2020 European -Virtual- Meeting, November 23-25, 2020 

no covid How we see the system with (now) and without (later) covid. How things run and where are we heading. How stable is the ground we step on. 

1 the brain 

It is not the amount of knowledge that makes a brain. It is not even the distribution of knowledge. It is the interconnectedness. James Gleick The Information: 
 a history, a theory, a flood, 2011 

entities A system where many agents take part: libraries, publishers, societies, funders (and their invisible clusters). Working in a context of limited resources; a context where everyone feels 'endangered.' 

links Depictions of reality carry our understanding: vertical structures to show rules and power; horizontal to show processes and stages; circular to show repetition. The world as a -multi-layer- network. 

motive Openness: considerable growth; far from the desired outcome; with reason. Publishers Conservation Consolidated market Broad activities Funders Restoration Agenda opening Instruments of change Scholars Expectation Scholar-led initiatives Support diversity Sustain 

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2 migration 

Not all desires lead to freedom, but freedom is the experience of a desire being acknowledged, chosen and pursued. John Berger Hold everything dear, 2007 

in motion Migration from one 'area' to another. A new scholarly habitat. Flows differ by country, field, area, college, instutition, etc. 

Pull (awareness, training, national legislation, funder policies) and push factors (impact, prestige, funding, opportunity). in motion National legislation and OA policies in EU (not Horizon2020) by LIBER OA & CLM WGs 

sustainability Viable* Simple Rewarding 

viable SCOSS (Global Sustainability Coalition for Open Science Services) 2020 Consortia & State level Funders: Canadian Research Knowledge Network, CAN (24 institutions) Council of Australian University Librarians, AU (11 institutions) FinELib, FI (15 institutions) Unit, NO (26 institutions) French Open Science Committee, FR 

LIBER Open Science Roadmap ...all libraries can do something and any step - no matter how small - is a step in the right direction. It is no longer a question of if but how. https://zenodo.org/record/1303002 

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3 the Greeks 

They are a most iniquitous and intractable race, and you may take my word as the word of a prophet, when I tell you, that whenever that nation shall bestow its literature upon Rome it will mar everything. Cato Plini the Elder, Historia Naturalis 

economy of scale • Economy of scale for access to e-content for more than 20 years. • Understand the landscape; broaden scope; join intelligence; ιnstruct to sustain. • Over the years, the consortium has developed systems; now develops common infrastructures and services. 

the Greek openness HEAL-Link strategically serves the purpose of Open Access and Open Science. OA elements in its agreements; memberships; other possibilities. Suggests to the Council of Rectors and the HQs of Funding Bodies policies that advance Open Science. Partners with every organization that substantially advances openness. 

the Scholarly Communication Unit The newest Unit of the consortium; operating in Patras. Follow developments; suggest actions; inform responsibly; promote OA. Report on OA progress; first official report to be presented in two weeks. Draft of the first HEAL-Link OA report. 

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.conclusions 

This open access to knowledge, these unlocked doors and signs of welcome, are a mark of a freedom as fundamental as any. They give a freedom to resolve difference by converse, and, where converse does not unite, to let tolerance compose diversity. J. Robert Oppenheimer Science and the Common Understanding, 1953 

beyond covid Library consortia are well placed and well linked. Increase intelligence, bottom up and top bottom, to address challenges. Communicate with others; clear the channels and understand. Avoid prejudice and arrogance; one size does not fit all. Test of time. 

thank you for your attention.