Open Access and Historical Monographs: Book Processing Charges amongst Selected Publishers of UK-based Historians

"This is a Royal Historical Society survey of some current (spring 2018) Book Processing Charges, using a 288pp plain text monograph as the core example: it is worth noting that publisher page designs vary (considerably), and that 288 pp from publisher A will not necessarily equate in actual word extent to 288pp from publisher B. It is important to emphasise, in addition, that may historical monographs actually exceed this 288pp extent, with obvious implications for charges arising. Colleagues will also need to check the VAT status of each BPC quoted, which is not always transparent.

This document is emphatically a work-in-progress, and will be updated as the Society receives further relevant information. The absence of any formalised or publicly accessible Open Access protocols and charges amongst some of the publishers listed below should not be taken necessarily as evidence of lack of engagement: several respondents have said that they would respond sympathetically to specific enquiries. It remains true nonetheless that levels of general engagement with this agenda remain higher in Europe than in North America...."