Open books and new publishing models
Following a recent request from one of our Schools for titles published by Open Book Publishers, we have now added the full list of OBP open access books to SAULCAT, the St Andrews University Library Catalogue.
Open Book Publishers (OBP) represents an innovative model of scholarly publishing, where all titles are available as free digital versions from the OBP site, and additional formats including pdf and print can be purchased. Some of OBP’s publishing costs are covered by research grants awarded to authors, and the income from the additional formats ensures this model of open access publishing is sustainable.
We have already noticed some demand for print copies, for example we have purchased a copy of The theatre of Shelley / Jacqueline Mulhallen in addition to the open access version.
Read more about the OBP ‘success story’ at http://www.oastories.org/2011/10/open-book-publishers/ and recent article in THE
OBP is just one of a number of developments taking advantage of the digital environment to create open access books. The Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) blog provides a useful roundup from a recent conference session: Spotlight on Open Access Books at COASP 2012
While much of the OA debate surrounds the response to new funder policies and published journal articles, we are seeing an exciting future for OA books. Publishing models include consortial funding by libraries, funding from University presses, re-use of exisitng ‘CC’ licensed content, collaborative peer review and publishing by groups of academics, income generation through add-on services such as print-on-demand.
Further examples of OA books: