The University of Vermont (UVM) has taken a bold step towards breaking down the barriers to scholarly publishing with the launch of the UVM Press, an open-access academic press that aims to empower researchers and readers by eliminating costs. Operating under a ‘diamond open access model,’ the UVM Press ensures that authors incur no publication fees, while readers can access published materials without any charges.
Recognizing the significance of research and the importance of unrestricted access to knowledge and ideas, UVM President Suresh Garimella expressed pride in the university's commitment to launching the UVM Press. By adopting an open-access approach, UVM seeks to remove obstacles and expand the community of researchers and readers.
The traditional publishing model, with its financial constraints, can impede the open exchange of information and ideas that is vital to scholarly discourse. This model often restricts the reach of important research, as authors must bear the costs of publishing, while readers face access barriers. However, the UVM Press challenges this status quo by embracing the open-access model, which eliminates these financial obstacles.
Bryn Geffert, UVM's dean of libraries and an advocate of open-access publishing, played a crucial role in the establishment of the UVM Press. Geffert's previous experience with open-access initiatives, including the launch of the Amherst College Press and the Lever Press consortium, positioned him well to lead this transformative endeavor. UVM Libraries, with its commitment to connecting patrons to information, serves as a natural partner in managing the UVM Press.
For Geffert, the UVM Press represents an opportunity to shine a spotlight on under recognized scholarship and overcome the restrictions imposed by traditional publishers. As an academic library, UVM Libraries views it as their obligation to provide information to all, regardless of means, and the open-access press allows them to fulfill this mission.
UVM Provost Patricia Prelock emphasized the profound impact of knowledge access, noting that the open-access platform not only addresses financial barriers for researchers but also provides free access to knowledge that enriches thinking and advances work for the betterment of the world.
With the launch of the UVM Press, the staff is eager to forge new partnerships and explore the potential of the open-access model. Possible collaborations include working with scholarly societies and organizations to establish new journals, aiding in the transition of existing journals to the diamond open-access model, and supporting scholars in producing book series within their specialized fields.
To facilitate these endeavors, the UVM Press plans to expand its staffing. Aimee Diehl, the managing editor of journals, will be joined by a book editor in the coming year, strengthening the press's capacity to nurture partnerships and projects.
The UVM Press's first publication, The Journal of Ecological Engineering Design, emerged from a collaboration between UVM faculty member Eric Roy and the American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES). This partnership sets the stage for future collaborations, demonstrating the potential of the UVM Press to drive innovation in scholarly publishing.
The UVM Press invites innovative ideas on how to maximize its potential as a catalyst for change in the publishing landscape. With its commitment to open access, UVM aims to create an inclusive platform that promotes the widest dissemination of research and knowledge.
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