Representatives from the UK government, funders, libraries, university administrators, learned societies, publishers and researchers came together at a conference on February 25, sponsored by five of the leading British learned societies. The agenda was to discuss the challenges of implementing the UK government policy on open access (OA) publication and the policies of research funders that have followed it.
Three key themes emerged from the day’s presentations and discussions. It was observed that all stakeholders need to work together constructively to move away from the polemical to the practical. There was strong agreement across stakeholders that although change is in motion, it is important to recognise that the exact future landscape is impossible to predict and that we must focus efforts on achieving sustainable solutions to the challenges ahead.
The second theme was about clarity regarding the policies of research funders is essential. A clear understanding of what policies require in terms of permitting the reuse of published information and acceptable embargo periods, is crucial to enable all stakeholders to implement these policies effectively and sustainably. The government's and RCUK's efforts to achieve this through endorsing the ‘decision tree’, as the preferred guide for authors to ensure compliance with government and RCUK policy, were welcomed. The announcement by RCUK it would make available to researchers a list of journals that complied with its policy was also welcomed.
The third theme was that the needs and concerns of researchers must be addressed. Institutional stakeholders are nearing readiness to implement OA policies. However, many of those who will be most directly affected – the researchers themselves – are unaware of funders' requirements, or are concerned about the policy's implications for where they can publish, how frequently they can publish, the affordability of publication and whether their intellectual property rights will be affected.
Implementing OA policies will require a substantial shift in community attitudes and behaviour in some disciplines and all stakeholders need to increase their efforts to communicate more effectively with researchers, it was noted. Higher Education Institutions have a key role to play in facilitating the shift to OA by simplifying processes for researchers and communicating the benefits of OA more effectively.
Recognising the important role that learned societies have to play in facilitating the further development and implementation of OA among the UK's scientific research communities, the five learned societies that organised and sponsored the event will work to build awareness of, and support for, OA amongst members, and for those who have a publishing arm, its authors.
