Early Morning Presentation, Open Access, WHO's HINARI

WHO's HINARI connects developing countries with database content.After a presentation I gave this morning (at what was to me the unknown hour of 7am), a Fellow asked me if our library resources were available to people not affiliated with UM.  More specifically, people not affiliated with UM from a not-for-profit organization.  More specifically, people not affiliated with UM from a not-for-profit organization from a developing country.

I mentioned that our license agreements were restrictive, and only UM affiliates could access our e-resources.  I further went on to talk about open access, and in particular PubMed Central and DOAJ as access alternatives.  I noted his contact information and promised to get back to him with more info.*

To make a(n unnecessarily) long story short, I ran the question by a colleague who's directing the library's global outreach initiatives, and she mentioned the WHO's HINARI program.  This program provides developing countries, identified by GNI per capita, with access to a strong collection of biomedical literature at no- to low-cost.  Not only do they provide access, but they also provide access to great training documentation.

I knew philanthropic endeavours like this existed, but it was the first I'd heard of (as far as I can remember) HINARI (even though it's been around forevs).  If only infrastructure wasn't a problem...

* And get back to him I did.