York University Libraries (YUL) has introduced SciFree, a search tool designed to help researchers identify open access (OA) journals that offer discounted or waived article processing charges (APCs) under existing institutional agreements. The tool aims to support York-affiliated authors in navigating the financial aspects of publishing in OA formats.
While the global open access movement has expanded access to scholarly research by removing paywalls for readers, the costs of publishing—particularly in Gold and Hybrid OA journals—remain a challenge for many authors. These models often require payment of APCs to make articles freely available upon publication.
To reduce this burden, YUL has negotiated discounts or waivers on APCs for nearly 10,000 Gold and Hybrid OA journals. However, identifying eligible journals and understanding available discounts has posed a challenge for many researchers.
SciFree addresses this issue by enabling users to search by journal title, keyword, or ISSN and retrieve a list of journals with applicable APC discounts or waivers through YUL agreements. Search results include details such as the percentage of the APC discount and information about open license options, including Creative Commons licenses.
This implementation is intended to improve access to OA publishing opportunities for faculty, students, and staff across disciplines. SciFree can be accessed through the Libraries’ Investments in Open Access webpage or directly via the search tool link.
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