The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) continues to make significant progress on its work item, “Recommended Practice for Operationalizing OA Business Processes.” Launched in May 2023, the initiative aims to address challenges in transitioning from pay-to-read to open access (OA) models, a shift that has far-reaching implications for stakeholders across the research ecosystem.
The working group for this initiative began its efforts in December 2023 and delivered the “NISO Open Access Business Processes Charge and Work Plan” in April 2024. Approved the following month, this foundational document outlines the key goals and deliverables of the project. The final Recommended Practice is scheduled for publication in June 2025, following a public comment period from February to April 2025.
The initiative recognizes the complexity of OA transitions, which affect authors, libraries, institutions, publishers, consortia, and funders. The group’s work focuses on developing solutions to standardize OA processes and improve efficiency, transparency, and collaboration in areas such as submission, publication, metadata management, reporting, communication, and payments.
Key deliverables include:
• A glossary of standard terms to ensure clarity in OA discussions.
• Standardized schema(s) to align OA workflows across various business models.
• A report on infrastructure gaps that impede effective OA operations.
• Recommended tools and best practices to streamline OA processes.
Phase 1 of the project concentrates on OA journals, while Phase 2 will expand its focus to include books, preprints, conference proceedings, and other scholarly outputs. While systemic inequities in OA are acknowledged, these broader issues fall outside the current scope of this initiative.
By offering guidance to standardize open access processes, NISO aims to support the growing adoption of diverse OA business models. The Recommended Practice will provide a framework for consistent operations throughout the OA article lifecycle, benefiting all stakeholders by improving communication, reducing inefficiencies, and enhancing data interoperability.
The draft Recommended Practice will be open for public comment starting in February 2025. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate and provide feedback to shape the final recommendations.
The full “NISO Open Access Business Processes Charge and Work Plan” is available here.
Click here to read the original press release.
