TAMIU Killam Library Launches Open Access Repository

As part of Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) celebration of Open Access Week (Monday, Oct. 25 – Friday, Oct. 29), the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library has launched a new website focusing on increasing access to academic research.

The newly named Research Information Online site, or RIO, is an open access repository containing freely accessible scholarly materials. The website launched Monday, Oct. 25 at https://rio.tamiu.edu/.

The content accessible through RIO includes TAMIU theses and dissertations, faculty publications, white papers, datasets, teaching and learning resources, audio and visual recordings, selected materials from the University’s Special Collections & Archives, and Open Educational Resources (OER).

While RIO is accessible to University scholars and academics throughout the world, the digitized repository aims to underscore the Killam Library’s mission to bring valuable resources to its community through open access, while fostering an environment that encourages diligent research efforts, affirmed Ben Rawlins, Killam Library director.  

“The addition of RIO ties in well with our OER initiative. Both are focused on increasing access to valuable sources. RIO will provide open access to the research, scholarship, and creative activity of TAMIU faculty, staff, and students. OER will work to provide free access to course materials to students at no cost to the student or university,” said Rawlins.

This year, the Killam Library has focused on increasing OER efforts to provide affordable and equitable educational resources to all its students, regardless of their socioeconomic status. 

OER offers materials that are openly licensed and can be adapted to meet local needs. Students can search for their current course through the Killam Library’s webpage, or talk to their professor. 

Since 2018, University faculty members have also used OER through OpenStax. Efforts to increase OER's use on campus included looking at ways to integrate OER by discussing its benefits and seeking collaborative opportunities to provide funding for the adoption, adaptation of new and existing OER. 

University faculty can also use the webpage to find OER to adopt, search courses that have used OER, find current OER adopted at TAMIU, and request assistance with OER.  

For additional information on OER at the Killam Library visit its dedicated webpage, email benjamin.rawlins@tamiu.edu or call 956.326.2393.