The Role of Medical Libraries in the Expanding Open Access Publishing Environment

Open Access (OA) publishing has become a key model for promoting unrestricted access to research and significantly enhancing knowledge dissemination. Article Processing Charges (APCs), a core financial mechanism of OA publishing, require authors to pay publication fees, reshaping the roles of medical libraries. This study examines the evolving roles of medical libraries in South Korea in response to the growth of OA publishing, focusing on APC support practices. Medical libraries provide APC funding, educate researchers on OA models, develop policies, collaborate with publishers, and manage OA repositories. Innovative approaches such as the Read & Publish and Publish & Read models have been adopted to reduce financial burdens and support the sustainability of OA publishing. This study highlights how APC-based OA models redefine medical libraries' functions and suggests strategies to enhance their roles, such as strengthening collaboration with researchers, securing national support, and optimizing APC management. By expanding beyond their traditional roles, medical libraries can emerge as key players in knowledge creation and sharing. This article also addresses the challenges of OA proliferation and rising APCs, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and offering actionable strategies to ensure the critical contributions of medical libraries to the evolving scholarly publishing ecosystem. [J Korean Med Libr Assoc 2024;51(1):23-33]