OCUL Response to "Open Access and the ASPP: Draft Policy Position" (FHSS) | Ontario Council of University Libraries

The Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) supports the initiative of the Federation to embrace Open Access. This policy has the potential to simultaneously improve the reach of Canadian scholarship, and to build capacity amongst Canadian presses. Given the fragility of the Canadian scholarly publishing industry, supporting monograph publishing is critical to a successful transition to an Open Access environment. The policy appropriately recognizes the importance of OA for scholarly monograph publishing but does not mandate it. Acceptance of scholarly e-books is evolving, and has been much slower than for e-journals. The Federation’s role in building critical mass may be key to scholars’ acceptance, both as authors and as peers assessing career contributions. OCUL Recommendations ..."