Open Opportunities: UND’s Read & Publish Agreements for Open Access Publishing
The University of North Dakota (UND) is advancing its commitment to open access (OA) by engaging in read and publish agreements with major academic publishers. These agreements are designed to make scholarly research more accessible by allowing UND-affiliated authors to publish their work openly without incurring individual article processing charges (APCs).
What Are Read and Publish Agreements?
Read and publish agreements are contracts between academic institutions and publishers that shift the traditional subscription-based model to one that supports open access publishing. Under these agreements, institutions pay a combined fee that covers both the cost of accessing subscription content and the APCs for their authors’ open access publications. This model aims to make research outputs freely available to the public while maintaining access to existing subscription journals. Every agreement comes with its own unique terms and conditions, so reaching out to your library for more details on what’s covered is a great idea!
UND’s Participation in Read and Publish Agreements
UND, through the Chester Fritz Library, has entered into read and publish agreements with several publishers, including:
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Cambridge University Press
- Company of Biologists
- IOP Publishing
- Oxford University Press
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Springer Nature
- Taylor and Francis – please note this agreement has a cap on how many APCs can be awarded.
These agreements enable UND researchers to publish open access articles in a wide range of journals without paying individual APCs. The costs are covered centrally by the university, facilitating broader dissemination of research findings. The number of APCs and types of Open Access journals differ based on the agreement’s terms and conditions.
Benefits for UND Researchers
- Cost Savings: Authors can publish open access without personal financial burden.
- Increased Visibility: Open access articles are more easily discoverable, potentially leading to higher citation rates.
- Compliance with Funding Requirements: Many funding agencies mandate open access publication; these agreements help authors meet such requirements.
How to Take Advantage of These Agreements
UND researchers interested in publishing under these read and publish agreements should:
- Identify Eligible Journals: Use SciFree to see if a specific journal is included in UND’s agreements.
- Use UND Affiliation: Ensure your institutional affiliation is clearly stated during the submission process.
- Consult the Library: Reach out to Brittany Fischer, Scholarly Communications Librarian, for guidance on the publication process and to confirm eligibility.
Additional Open Access Resources at UND
- UND Scholarly Commons: An institutional repository where researchers can deposit their work for open access dissemination.
- Open Access Publication Grant: Provides financial support for APCs in cases not covered by read and publish agreements.
- Creative Commons Licensing: Assistance with selecting appropriate licenses to retain rights while promoting sharing and reuse.
By participating in read and publish agreements, UND is fostering a more open and accessible research environment. These initiatives not only benefit individual researchers but also contribute to the global movement toward open science.
For more information, visit the Open Access @ UND guide or contact Brittany Fischer at brittany.fischer@UND.edu.
