Researchers input into open access future

“Humanities and social science researchers are being invited to help JISC Collections understand the future of the monograph through an online survey [http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/oapenukresearcher] ... In an open access model the monograph is made freely available, but the process requires some investigation to establish the priorities for such a business  model.  Readers or their libraries do not have to pay to read it online because the costs of the publishing process such as typesetting and marketing are recovered through alternative routes such as research grants, institutional funding or perhaps through readers purchasing print editions or particular formats for their iPad or Kindle.  Caren Milloy, head of projects at JISC Collections said: ‘We’re six months into the project and, following a series of focus groups, have identified some key questions for researchers – both as authors and readers. The findings from this survey will combine with interviews and surveys of other stakeholder groups to help us understand the big issues and priorities that an open access publishing model must accommodate.’ To thank you for your help, if you complete the survey before 16 April 2012 you will be entered into a draw for Amazon vouchers – there are three £100 vouchers, three £50 vouchers and three £25 vouchers to win. OAPEN-UK is an Arts and Humanities Research Council and JISC funded project exploring the issues impacting upon the publishing of scholarly monographs in the humanities and social sciences (HSS). The project is working with Taylor & Francis, Palgrave Macmillan, Berg Publishers, Liverpool University Press, University Wales Press, research funders and universities, to understand the challenges and steps required to move towards an open access publishing model for scholarly monographs. Further information on OAPEN-UK is available on the project website: OAPEN-UK has two strands: an open access pilot gathering data on the usage, sales and citations of 60 monographs, and a wider research project which explores the environment for open access publishing.”