Why openness needs to go beyond accessEarlier this year, Open Research Librarian Abi Harrison-Henshall and Open Research Specialist Dr. Sarah Kneen attended the Academic Libraries North (ALN) Conference 2026: Reimagining Openness in Academic Libraries. Openness is not the same as accessibilityA recurring theme throughout the conference was the difference between openness and accessibility. They reminded us that much open access content still reflects Western academic traditions and knowledge systems. It also prompted us to reflect on the role libraries and research support services can play in reducing that burden. More informationDr Sarah Kneen, Open Research Specialist: Open Research ProgrammeAbi Harrison-Henshall, Open Research Librarian: Open Access