This month we look at diamond open access journals (“sponsored”). With some large funders advocating their use as a more equitable form of open access, can publishers make them work? Background An APC-based payment model is increasingly seen as challenging. APCs represent a rising expense, especially for institutions publishing large volumes of articles. Additionally, the… Read More

This month, we look at how fully Open Access journals are managed differently depending upon who publishes them. Background Most publishers need to ensure that their income at least covers their costs, whether they are mission based or profit driven. Assuming constant prices, for open access publishing, income is driven primarily by the number of… Read More

Last month, we looked at the headline price increases. This month, we look at spreads of prices and price optimization. In the following months, we will look at how the competitive landscape is evolving. Each year we survey the list Article Processing Charges (APCs) of a sample of major and significant publishers. Covering over 18,000… Read More

Each year we survey the list Article Processing Charges (APCs) of a sample of major and significant publishers. Covering over 18,000 titles, and going back to 2016, our data set represents one of the most comprehensive reviews of open access pricing. The latest analysis of list prices suggests prices in general are increasing, although averages… Read More

This month we examine how the growth of the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) has developed over the last 18 months. We look at some key statistics from the Directory and examine the continuing growth in OA Books. Background The Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) tracks academic books, which “must be made available… Read More

At this time of year, we review patterns in the licenses attached to open access publications. This year, we will look at the changing balance of license use among OASPA members and explore how different publishers place difference emphasis on different license types. Introduction Each year OASPA surveys its member organizations to gather information about… Read More

The Nelson Memo – Charleston Perspectives By Meg White The annual November pilgrimage to Charleston, SC made its post-COVID return last month. While many topics were discussed, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) provided a last moment addition to the planned agenda, with the August 25th publication of a memorandum (aka… Read More