The HardiBlog

For many years, open publishing has been described through colours of Green, Gold, Hybrid, Diamond, and Bronze. For those working in the space, these terms are familiar and easy to say. For authors and researchers, I would question how useful they are, especially for early career authors. At University of Galway, we have been changing the way we talk about open. Rather than asking authors to start by understanding a set of colours, our guidance increasingly begins with Routes to Open  describing what the author needs to do, where the open version will be available, what rights are involved, and whether payment is required. Currently OpenAlex and its Community Advisory Board are consulting on a more fundamental revision of open-access classification, potentially replacing the colour categories with a system based on access, location, and licence [1,2]. Why we started changing the language The problem we perceived is in what colour terms communicate to an author. In 2025, our own Re...

The Library is marking Mental Health Week / Seachtain na Meabhairshláinte  (5th Oct - 10th Oct)  with a display of mental health and wellbeing books in the Library Foyer. The book display contains a range of titles such as: Busy and Wrecked: Create Space and Energy  Eat your Ice Cream: six simple rules for a long and healthy life  Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul: how to nurture your well-being with Nature The mindful self-compassion workbook : a proven way to accept yourself, build inner strength, and thrive  (e-book) The mindful college student : how to succeed, boost well-being, and build the life you want at university and beyond  (e-book only) Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Panic: a Five Areas Approach (e-book) David Gillick's Kitchen: Good Food from the Track to the Kitchen The Complete Book of Wild Swimming in Ireland                                      ...