Information for Better Decision-Making: Open-Access Repositories, Search Engines and Academic Networks

Abstract

Not many years ago access to scientific information was difficult, because usually works were published in academic journals accessible only in specialized libraries. With the introduction of Internet use such access is widespread. The web and the open access movement have made it possible. At this moment anyone anywhere can access to a large amount of scientific information produced all over the world. This work aims first to argue about these two elements as key in the democratization of access to and use of scientific information, and secondly describe the open access repositories, search engines and academic networks most used, which allow such access today.