Abstract

HINOJOSA ALVAREZ, María del C; SERRA LARIN, Silvia; GUTIERREZ SOTO, Tania  and  LUIS GONZALVEZ, Isabel Pilar. Initiatives for equitable access to scientific information at the National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology of Cuba. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2014, vol.52, n.3, pp.411-417. ISSN 1561-3003.

The open access movement is a social phenomenon involving researchers, librarians, editors and other members of society. The movement advocates broader access to scientific information through the elimination of economic, technological and licensing barriers. A presentation is provided of some of the initiatives developed during the past ten years at the Department of Scientific Information in Hygiene, Epidemiology and Food Safety of the National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology, to provide all users with equitable access to information, knowledge and the development of professional skills. Among these initiatives are thematic virtual health libraries, digital collections, scientific publications, distance education, and others. Despite the efforts and investments made by the Cuban government, there are obvious access and connectivity disparities, mainly outside the capital, due to economic limitations and the harsh blockade imposed upon the country for more than fifty years. It is necessary to provide open, universal, equitable access to specialized information for the entire community of users, irrespective of their geographic location.

Keywords : equity; scientific information.

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