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<font size=3>[Forwarding from Open Access Publishing in European Networks
(OAPEN). --Peter Suber.] <br>
<img src="cid:718420115@09102009-16B3" alt="logo"><br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=2>OAPEN Newsletter - October
2009<br><br>
* User needs study on Open Access Book Publishing *<br><br>
As part of the OAPEN project Prof.dr. Paul Rutten and Drs. Janneke Adema
(Leiden University, The Netherlands) have carried out a study on user
needs in relation to open access book publishing within the Humanities
and Social Sciences (HSS).<br><br>
The study will be made available through OAPEN's website,
<a href="http://www.oapen.org/" eudora="autourl">www.oapen.org</a>, by
the end of October. Below are some of the main findings of the report.
Please feel free to give your feedback on this summary to Janneke Adema
(j.t.l.adema@hum.leidenuniv.nl). <br><br>
Main Findings<br><br>
. Print remains important in HSS
although a trend has been established to more digital consumption (more
screen reading and E-Book use), more informal online communication (blogs
and wiki's) and a small rise of scholarly writing specifically adapted to
the digital environment. It is felt print and E-Books will coexist and
will be used side-by-side for the time being.<br><br>
. Accessibility and dissemination of
scholarly content are key. It is felt Open Access promotes both and does
not necessarily harm the quality of publications. Accessibility also
opens research up further, enabling content enhancement and connections
(links) between publications. A good and easy way to use search function
remains indispensable.<br><br>
. In the online environment filter
and selection mechanisms such as peer review remain of the utmost
importance to establish quality, as are (publishers) brands and
(scholarly) reputations. It is felt Open Access monographs should pay
extra attention to quality control to ensure their legitimacy.<br><br>
. Experiments with new forms of
collaboration and new (Open Access) business models in book publishing
are necessary. The research shows users are still skeptical about the
sustainability of these kinds of models but feel experiments are
essential to save the monograph from the traditional (print) publishing
model that is no longer sustainable.<br><br>
The research is based on a state of the art literature study, round table
discussions, one-on-one interviews across Europe, and an online
survey.<br><br>
<br>
* OAPEN survey 'Funding of Monographs in the HSS' *<br><br>
OAPEN is currently conducting a survey about the 'Funding of Monographs
in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)'<br><br>
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GqUMvpUHKQ0zCQAXd5_2fDUg_3d_3d">
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=GqUMvpUHKQ0zCQAXd5_2fDUg_3d_3d<br>
<br>
</a>The survey invites authors/editors, funders and publishers to
estimate how books are currently funded and how this might be
complemented by funding opportunities for Open Access publishing of
books. We welcome you to take part in the survey or to send it on to
others who might be interested. The outcomes of the survey will support
OAPEN in the development and implementation of an Open Access publication
model for peer reviewed academic books in HSS.<br><br>
The survey is based on the observation that publishing of monographs
(including anthologies) in HSS often relies on additional funding on the
part of authors/editors as costs can not solely be met by revenues of
sales. So far funding institutions have mainly supported the print
production and based their funding models on the traditional book market.
The combination of a free (open access) electronic version (access,
searchability, quick citability etc.) with a convenient pay print version
offers new opportunities in visibility and dissemination.<br><br>
* Meet us at Frankfurt Book Fair, 14-19 October 2009 *<br><br>
Amsterdam University Press, stand 4.2 C410 (Man. Director Saskia de
Vries, S.C.J.deVries@aup.nl / OAPEN coördinator Eelco Ferwerda,
E.Ferwerda@aup.nl)<br><br>
Museum Tusculanum Press, stand 4.2 C411 (Man. Director Marianne Alenius,
alenius@mtp.dk)<br><br>
Manchester University Press, stand 8.0 C921 (Man. Director David Rodgers,
d.rodgers@manchester.ac.uk)<br><br>
Universitätsverlag Göttingen, stand 4.2 M440 (Head of Publishing Margo
Bargheer, bargheer@sub.uni-goettingen.de)<br><br>
Firenze University Press, stand 4.2 M442 (Man. Director Patrizia
Cotoneschi, cotoneschi@unifi.it)<br><br>
<br><br>
OAPEN is a Targeted Project co-funded by the EC within its eContentplus
Programme.<br><br>
OAPEN aims to develop and implement an Open Access publication model for
academic books in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). Our goal is
to achieve a sustainable European approach to improve the quantity,
visibility and usability of high quality academic research and foster the
creation of new content by developing future-oriented publishing
solutions, including an Open Access Library for peer reviewed books in
HSS. The 30-months project started in September 2008.<br><br>
Learn more about OAPEN by visiting the website:
<a href="http://www.oapen.org/" eudora="autourl">www.oapen.org<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
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</a>If you don't wish to receive further newsletters, please reply to
website@oapen.org with 'unsubscribe OAPEN' in the subject field<br><br>
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