Online Access to Research in the Environment, or OARE, is much more than a website. It is what Library Journal calls “information philanthropy” and represents the combined efforts of many people and organizations both public and private. Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Yale University, OARE offers free or very low‐cost peer‐reviewed journal literature to researchers in developing nations. The program began in October 2006, modeling itself after HINARI (Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative) and AGORA (Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture). First to be invited to participate were 72 Band 1 countries, those having a World Bank defined gross national income (GNI) less than $US1,250 per capita. Late last year, the program was opened up to 36 Band 2 countries, with a GNI per capita income between $1,250 and $3,500.
Major scientific publishers and societies contribute their journals to OARE, including Elsevier, CSIRO, University of Chicago Press, Wiley, Cambridge, Nature Publishing, the Ecological Society of America, CABI and about 340 others. OARE states that about 75 percent of the environmental sciences literature is represented. With 2,870+ journal titles listed on the web site, this is a realistic claim. Publishers are invited to submit their journals for inclusion so the number will continue to grow. OARE has also paid attention to technological improvements; Microsoft recently signed on as a partner. The Yale University Library develops and maintains the public website while UNEP registers and authenticates users. All members of the OARE partnership have committed to the project through 2015.
OARE aims to reduce the disparities in access to scientific information in order to assist developing countries to manage their natural resources and ecosystems; to foster the education of new generations of scientists; and to encourage established scientists to research and publish to international standards. Government agencies, libraries, research institutions and universities and colleges are eligible to request enrolment in OARE. An essential component for participating organizations is internet access along with facilities to use the service: PCs or Macs plus browser software (recent versions of Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Firefox plus Adobe Acrobat). Once an organization enrolls, the password is given to the librarian or director, who then distributes it to all researchers, faculty, staff, administrators and students. Walk‐in users are also welcome to access the OARE resources. The digital divide – prohibitively expensive internet connections, uncertain electricity supplies, no or outdated computers, etc. –is a very real issue potential enrolees face. More than 500 organizations are participating, most of them in Africa, 60 percent in 2007 (Bounda, 2007).
The web site can be read in English, French or Spanish. A user finds material by searching the two included journal databases: EBSCO's Environment Index and CSA's Environmental Science and Pollution Management. SFX linking will open the full text of an article when available. (Access to backfiles varies by publisher.) Users may also browse journals by title, publisher, language, or subject. The website has links to services with free full‐text, like the Directory of Open Access Journals and J‐Stage. In‐person training is occasionally provided, but three online tutorials are probably the way most users learn how to use the system. The website is easy to navigate and is presented in attractive colours and design. Three online PDF documents can be printed off to introduce others to OARE and its services.
OARE is an invaluable resource for developing countries and regions as they engage in environmental problem‐solving. It exemplifies what can be achieved by sustained cooperation between public and private enterprises.
