RLUK’s Collections Strategy Network (CSN) has developed a set of principles to guide RLUK members when evaluating future investment in Open Access Monograph models.  These take into account the need to align investments with local strategy and activities but also recognise the opportunity libraries often have to influence a wider agenda by pushing beyond these. They include consideration of infrastructure support as well as content, reference the underpinning aim to sustain bibliodiversity, and outline some specific aspects of practice to ensure sustainability, equity and transparency.    

Within RLUK libraries we will use these to frame decisions and discussions on individual and sector support for initiatives, and hope that they may also be a useful starting point for developments across the sector.

Shared Principles for the Evaluation and Acquisition of Open Access Monograph Models

Working collectively

As members of Research Libraries UK, we harness our collective voice, experience and expertise to develop a shared understanding of, and approach to, more equitable and affordable models of open access monograph publishing beyond Gold Open Access models.

We engage with trusted consortia-based frameworks such as SCOSS, Jisc OACF, and Open Book Futures when considering how and where to pledge our support.

We are committed to supporting open infrastructure for open access monographs, and the service providers that develop the platforms and software solutions that enable them to be found, read and engaged with. For example, DOAB, OAPEN, Open Book Collective, and Thoth Open Metadata.

Our decision-making is guided by the following principles:

1. Strategic support for the goals of both institutions and the sector

  • The aims and objectives or values and ethos of the initiative should broadly align with university/institutional strategies and policies on open research, sustainability, and social responsibility.
  • There should be alignment with research and/or teaching disciplines, or a potential use case for the initiative, at the university/institution.
  • Libraries should also use their resources (and their influence with academics) to go beyond local drivers in support of open access to support the transformation of academic publishing more widely.

2. Sustainability

  • There should be evidence that the initiative is financially viable (or established for at least two years), that it offers value for money to institutions, and that it has appropriate governance and staff/infrastructure in place.
  • Libraries should prioritise and champion schemes run by not-for-profit, community- owned or scholar-led initiatives (that are protected from commercial acquisition), as well as innovative and sustainable schemes run by commercial publishers.

3. Equity

  • There should be minimal barriers in place for those who wish to support the initiative or scheme, including ensuring the discoverability of open access content once it is published.
  • To support bibliodiversity and inclusion, schemes should offer publishing opportunities to early-career researchers and independent researchers, or feature measures that increase participation from researchers and institutions from the global majority.
  • The governance of schemes should guard against the commercialisation of scholarly infrastructure to ensure equitable access and use in the long term.
  • Libraries should consider supporting innovative schemes of any size, whether small or operating on a large scale.

4. Transparency

  • There should be transparency from schemes regarding participation costs and publishing costs, benefits and outcomes, how funds will be used and how any profits will be invested, with a clear roadmap or objectives for long-term development.
  • It should be clear who is responsible for providing long term access and preservation of both the content and its associated metadata.
  • There should be an opportunity for supporters to be involved in governance or development of the initiative going forward.

Supporting bibliodiversity

Research Libraries UK members aim to create and sustain an open access monograph publishing ecosystem where smaller and scholar-led publishers thrive, resulting in publications which reflect the whole spectrum of research and learning conducted in our research institutions and beyond.

By creating and adopting these shared principles and using them to guide our decision- making, we support open access publication and open infrastructure for the benefit of our own researchers and students, the global research community, and the public.