LibKey Nomad and Unpaywall: Tools for Open Access and OER
Open Access Week is a time to spotlight tools that help make scholarly research more accessible to everyone. Two browser extensions — LibKey Nomad and Unpaywall — can help you bypass paywalls and discover open versions of academic articles, supporting the broader goals of Open Educational Resources (OER).
LibKey Nomad connects you to full-text articles available through GSU’s library, even when browsing external sites like PubMed, publisher pages, or Wikipedia. It also flags open access versions when available, making it easier to incorporate free, reusable content into your coursework and research.
Unpaywall works by scanning open repositories for legally available versions of scholarly articles. When installed, it adds a small icon to article pages (green for open access, gray for paywalled) to help you quickly identify free alternatives hosted by authors or institutions.
Together, these tools reduce barriers to scholarly content and empower faculty to design OER-friendly syllabi. For students, they simplify the research process and expand access to high-quality sources without extra cost.
As we rethink how knowledge is shared, LibKey Nomad and Unpaywall offer practical ways to support open access values in everyday academic work. Try them out this week and see how they can enhance your teaching, learning, and research. And ask your librarians for help any time!