2026 Open Access

University Libraries will celebrate Open Access Month this October with a series of programs exploring the opportunities and challenges shaping open scholarship. This year’s sessions will examine digital accessibility and open research, introduce OpenAlex as an open citation index, and explore the evolving relationship between open access and artificial intelligence. Programs will be offered in person at Cook Library and online throughout October. Panel Discussion: Open Access and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity, Threat, or Both? Tuesday, October 27 | 2 p.m. Cook Library Room 206Z and Virtual Register Panelists: Dr. Jose Martinez Cruz, Assistant Professor, School of Computing Sciences & Computer Engineering Dr. Jason McCormick, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities and Director of the Writing Center Dr. Lila de Tantillo, Associate Professor, School of Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice Dr. Wei Wang, Professor, School of Marketing Join us for this session in which a group of Southern Miss faculty will discuss the effects that the rapid growth of generative AI tools may have on open scholarship and open access (OA). For example, we will discuss whether open research being available for AI models to scrape and train is a net positive or negative for OA. We will also discuss the degree to which AI-generated works are appropriate for inclusion in open research platforms. In addition to these and other related topics, audience members will have the opportunity to ask the panelists their own questions related to the relationship between OA and AI. Virtual attendees MUST register in order to receive the meeting links for the sessions. Registration is strongly encouraged but not strictly required for in-person attendees. Please contact aquilastaff@usm.edu.