Brock University is modernizing its model of support for open access publishing to make it more equitable and multi-disciplinary. As the publishing landscape rapidly evolves, the Brock University Library is working to better meet the needs of researchers in line with other Canadian research institutions.
New and enhanced supports are available to Brock researchers to publish their research via open access channels.
Investments in open access will focus on supporting a growing number of multi-disciplinary publisher agreements and memberships, which offer discounts or fee waivers for Brock authors. Many major publishers participate in these ‘read-and-publish’ agreements, which are already saving Brock researchers tens of thousands of dollars, according to Nicole Nolan, Associate University Librarian, Research.
The Library also plans to expand investments in internal and external community-controlled open access platforms and infrastructure, such as the Brock Digital Repository and the Directory of Open Access Journals.
One important change is a shift away from investing in an Open Access Fund, which had provided researchers with grants to pay for article processing charges (APCs). APCs, which are one business model used by some open access publishers, have created an economic barrier for many researchers. After careful consideration and consultation, a decision was made by the Library Scholarly Communications Working Group to reinvest this funding in supports that would more equitably serve Brock researchers while continuing to support open access.
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