Open access has become an essential component of spreading and sharing scholarly knowledge. It has become a significant alternative to traditional publishing options. This thesis reports on a qualitative study that explores how Australian researchers experience open access as part of their information literacy. The research was informed by the relational perspective of information literacy which emphasises the relationship between people and information, and the way people experience the world.

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... The qualitative data was collected from 31 researchers employed at Australian universities. Semi-structured interviews were employed and analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed four themes that represent the researchers' experiences of open access as part of their information literacy. The themes revealed are: Understanding Open Access, Institutional Repositories, Publishing and Dissemination, and Finding Information. The themes signify that open access is shaping how Australian researchers experience information literacy, influencing how Australian researchers are, and can be, informed and informing researchers. For example, as informed and informing researchers, participants have their own individual understandings of what open access is, its benefits to them, and its benefits to the academy and society at large. The study's findings create new knowledge for researchers to use and build upon in the field of open access and information literacy. The research contributes to existing knowledge by providing an empirical understanding of researchers' use of open access as part of their broader information world. The research also contributes to Australian universities by providing an evidence base to inform the development of information literacy and/or open access programs, resources and strategies offered by university libraries, thus helping to ensure the programs genuinely meet the lived needs of researchers. iv