Our readers will be happy to know that the Public Library of Science (PLoS) has launched the PLoS Hubs: Biodiversity.
This is a new pilot website that with bring together and connect the biodiversity community with open access research. The hub is built on the concept of open access; whereby all barriers to research are removed so that access and reuse of scientific research is free to all. (a concept close to our hearts at Bioversity Library!).
The PLos Hubs: Biodiversity will have three main functions:
1. Open access articles on the broad theme of biodiversity are selected and imported into the Hub for consultation
2. In time content will be enhanced, so that the said articles will be connected to data
3. The Hub will provide a community forum whereby researchers and scientists can interact around a specific theme.
Brian Mossop, the PLoS Community Manager had this to say about the Hub:
<quote>”PLoS Hubs: Biodiversity is a place for researchers to meet and discuss important published papers in their field. But aside from aggregating the articles in biodiversity, this pilot Hub will be the first look into the future of open-access publishing. With Creative Commons licensing, content that has been hand-selected by active leaders in the field can be ‘mashed-up’ with other data from around the Web. Much like popular magazines offer iPad apps with feature-rich content, PLoS Hubs will turn reading papers into a true multi-media experience” <unquote>
View PLOS Hubs: Biodiversity here.
(Material adapted from the PLoS Blogs website)
