Western Michigan University Libraries has released results from its 2024 Open Access Publishing Survey, led by Professors Michele Behr and Ed Eckel, examining experiences with open access publishing among Western faculty, staff, and graduate students. The survey had 192 responses collected from October through December 2024, and the report analyzes publication habits, financial considerations, and perceptions of open access publishing across the university community.
The release cites the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition’s definition of open access as the free, immediate online availability of research articles along with the rights to use them. It notes that open access can broaden global reach and lower barriers for learners and other researchers, while acknowledging that article processing charges often affect authors’ decisions.
The investigators stated that scholarly publishers control access to and pricing for scholarly journals, influencing who can access content and publish. According to them, open access offers significant value for scholars and the broader community but that economics are a challenge. They added that the survey will help the Libraries understand campus perspectives to guide education and advocacy, and they encouraged faculty to take greater control of their research in relation to publishers.
Click here to read the original press release.
