Guest Post - Trust and Transparency in Open Access Book Publishing:  Part 1 - The Scholarly Kitchen

"While awareness of predatory journals is growing, the risks posed by untrustworthy book publishers remain less well known. Some open access (OA) book publishers charge authors a Book Processing Charge (BPC), which — when handled by a reputable publisher — covers vital services such as peer review, editorial oversight, and wide dissemination.

Predatory book publishers, however, often charge similar fees without providing these essential services. They may even mimic the names of legitimate publishers, making them difficult to identify. For authors — especially early-career researchers — distinguishing between credible and untrustworthy organizations can be challenging. Falling into the trap of a predatory publisher can mean losing money, seeing their work unpublished or poorly presented, and suffering damage to their academic reputation.

That’s why Think. Check. Submit. offers guidance to help researchers identify trusted publishers. This international initiative provides practical tools and resources to promote research integrity and ensure work is shared through reputable channels. The Think. Check. Submit. checklist for books and chapters walks authors through key questions to evaluate a publisher’s credibility. It’s available in 25 languages to support researchers worldwide...."