Illegal knowledge, illegal librarianship: On the intersection of black open access and the librarian’s professional ethics
(2026) ABMM54 20261Division of ALM, Digital Cultures and Publishing Studies
- Abstract
- The academic librarian’s mission of facilitating free access to knowledge has endured even as forms of librarianship have evolved. Since the introduction of the internet and the subsequent shift from physical to digital knowledge dissemination, additional ethical and practical considerations have emerged. One such consideration is the existence of black open access and shadow libraries, born out of a frustration with the oligarchic academic publishing industry’s treatment of knowledge as a resource to be profited from rather than a public good to be spread freely. This thesis conducts a rapid scoping review to examine the conflict between black open access and the academic publishing industry and attempt to position the librarian in... (More)
- The academic librarian’s mission of facilitating free access to knowledge has endured even as forms of librarianship have evolved. Since the introduction of the internet and the subsequent shift from physical to digital knowledge dissemination, additional ethical and practical considerations have emerged. One such consideration is the existence of black open access and shadow libraries, born out of a frustration with the oligarchic academic publishing industry’s treatment of knowledge as a resource to be profited from rather than a public good to be spread freely. This thesis conducts a rapid scoping review to examine the conflict between black open access and the academic publishing industry and attempt to position the librarian in relation to this struggle, both ideologically and practically. Black open access will be shown as an alternative mode of knowledge dissemination which support libraries in their work to preserve and spread knowledge, especially in times of crisis when libraries’ ability to fulfil those duties are compromised. Further, black open access will be evaluated both as a competition to academic libraries, but also as a force which we may utilise to further the goals of our profession. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9232444
- author
- Jönsson, Jonatan LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- Olaglig kunskap, olagligt biblioteksarbete: I skärningspunkten mellan svart öppen tillgång och bibliotekariens yrkesetik
- course
- ABMM54 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Black open access, shadow libraries, academic publishing, the librarian’s professional ethics
- language
- English
- id
- 9232444
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-18 10:54:38
- date last changed
- 2026-06-18 10:54:38
@misc{9232444,
abstract = {{The academic librarian’s mission of facilitating free access to knowledge has endured even as forms of librarianship have evolved. Since the introduction of the internet and the subsequent shift from physical to digital knowledge dissemination, additional ethical and practical considerations have emerged. One such consideration is the existence of black open access and shadow libraries, born out of a frustration with the oligarchic academic publishing industry’s treatment of knowledge as a resource to be profited from rather than a public good to be spread freely. This thesis conducts a rapid scoping review to examine the conflict between black open access and the academic publishing industry and attempt to position the librarian in relation to this struggle, both ideologically and practically. Black open access will be shown as an alternative mode of knowledge dissemination which support libraries in their work to preserve and spread knowledge, especially in times of crisis when libraries’ ability to fulfil those duties are compromised. Further, black open access will be evaluated both as a competition to academic libraries, but also as a force which we may utilise to further the goals of our profession.}},
author = {{Jönsson, Jonatan}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Illegal knowledge, illegal librarianship: On the intersection of black open access and the librarian’s professional ethics}},
year = {{2026}},
}