Is there ever a funny side to hitting a paywall? Researchers seeking information are often stumped when the materials they need are accessible only upon subscription.  As many institutions cannot afford subscriptions to the majority of academic publishers, researchers are often frustrated when the sources they need are locked behind an expensive paywall.

“You've hit a paywall!? That sucks,” sympathises the Open Access Button, an in-browser app designed to raise awareness of paywalls. The creators of the site state that pay-to-view academic content “slows innovation, kills curiosity and harms patients,” and claim that their app will raise awareness of the extent of the research access problem.

Users download the “bookmarklet”– a small button that sits in the taskbar of their internet browser - and search academic archives during the normal course of their work, pressing the Open Access Button when encountering paywalls. The Open Access button then records the location and description of the locked content. The app places the user on a map, and, where possible, suggests alternative ways to view the content. The map has recorded about 2,000 paywalls, with hits from all over the globe showing the effects of inaccessible research. Visit the Open Access Button webpage and download the app here.

While the Open Access Button may not solve the immediate problems and controversies of open access research, it will certainly cheer up researchers who have hit the wall.

ecancermedicalscience does not charge author or subscription fees.