A New Chapter for Open Access: James Moore Joins Concordia to Champion Scholarly Futures

Well, here’s a piece of news that’s quite frankly exciting for the academic world, especially if you care about knowledge being, you know, open and accessible. Concordia University, a place that’s always seemed to have its sights set on innovation, has brought James Moore aboard as their new Associate University Librarian for Open Scholarship. And yes, this officially kicks off November 4, 2025 — a date for the diaries, perhaps, if you're keen on the future of research sharing.

Moore, a name many might already recognize within the broader library and information science community, isn't just another face. He's been, in truth, quite the force in advocating for open access. Before this big move to Concordia, he held the reins as Executive Director at the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries, or COPPUL as it’s more commonly known. Think of it: he was steering a consortium of university libraries across western Canada, a role that surely sharpened his already keen understanding of collaboration and resource sharing on a grand scale.

His new gig at Concordia? It's all about leading the charge for open scholarship strategies and services. We're talking open access, of course, but also the crucial realm of open educational resources — making learning materials free and readily available — and, importantly, research data management. It’s a comprehensive vision, you could say, for making scholarly work not just produced, but genuinely shared and utilized, pushing past traditional paywalls and restrictive access points.

Guylaine Beaudry, who serves as Vice-Provost of Concordia University Libraries, couldn’t be more enthusiastic, and honestly, you can see why. She highlighted Moore’s extensive background, particularly his work in consortium environments and his advocacy for these open principles. His experience, she notes, perfectly aligns with Concordia's ongoing commitment to open scholarship. It's not just a buzzword for them; it’s a cornerstone of their research mission.

And James Moore himself? He’s clearly ready to dive in. He expressed genuine excitement about contributing to Concordia’s vibrant research ecosystem. For him, it's an opportunity to collaborate with faculty, researchers, and students, all while pushing the boundaries of how scholarly information is disseminated and consumed. His career, marked by a Master of Library and Information Studies from UBC and a Philosophy degree from Queen’s, has prepared him well for this multifaceted role, bridging the practical with the theoretical.

So, what does this all mean for Concordia, for its researchers, and for the wider academic world? It means a continued, perhaps even intensified, push towards a future where knowledge isn't locked away but flourishes in the open. It’s about impact, certainly, but also about equity and making sure that groundbreaking work can reach anyone, anywhere. And that, really, is something to look forward to, isn't it?