In a significant move toward sustainable open-access publishing, MIT Press's Direct to Open (D2O) has announced the attainment of its full funding goal for the year 2024. Now entering its third year of operation, D2O is set to provide open access to 79 new monographs and edited book collections, marking a notable achievement as the first year the initiative has been fully funded by its November 30 deadline without requiring an extension through the fiscal year's end.
Launched in 2021, D2O presents an innovative and sustainable framework for open-access monographs. Unlike traditional market-based purchase models, D2O operates on a collaborative, library-supported open-access model. What sets D2O apart is its ability to open access to the entire slate of scholarly books during each funding cycle, offering equal support to traditionally underserved disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
While other models focus on fund-to-open opportunities on a title-by-title basis or within specific disciplines, D2O stands out by providing a comprehensive approach, enabling monograph authors in diverse fields to have their work accessible through open access.
In a landscape where the market for scholarly books is on the decline, the impact of D2O is evident in reaching larger online audiences, averaging 2,694 reads per title. These works are contributing to broader accessibility, with D2O books receiving almost 1,100 academic citations.
With an eye on the future, the MIT Press is now gearing up for its fourth funding cycle and extends an invitation to libraries and library consortia to participate. Detailed information can be found at mitpress.mit.edu/D2O. As the mission aligns with MIT's goal to advance knowledge across various disciplines, the MIT Press sees opportunities for further expansion of the D2O model in the coming years.
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