Webinar: Developing Institutional Policies for Open Access Books

• September 12, 2024

While Open Access (OA) is making significant strides, institutional policies often focus too heavily on journal articles, leaving long-form publications like books and monographs underrepresented. To address this gap, the European University Association (EUA) and the PALOMERA project (Policy Alignment of Open Access Monographs in the European Research Area) are co-hosting a webinar on September 24, 2024, from 15:00-16:30 CEST. The event will spotlight the importance of including long-form publications in Open Access policies, especially in disciplines where these formats are central.

A Broader Perspective on Open Access

This webinar aims to raise awareness among universities and research institutions about the need for Open Access policies that encompass more than just journal articles. It will focus on Open Access books, including monographs, book chapters, and edited collections, all of which are crucial scholarly outputs in many fields.

The session will explore the diversity of OA policies across universities and research organizations within the European Research Area (ERA). Partners from the PALOMERA project will present findings from their policy mapping research, which examines national approaches to Open Access book policies. Key takeaways will include:

• The benefits of having a dedicated policy for Open Access books.
• Essential elements to consider when developing such a policy.
• The implications of adding books to a university’s existing Open Access policy.
• The need for life-cycle thinking in Open Access and Open Science policy development.

Participants will gain insights into how and why universities and research institutions are developing OA book policies, and how these policies can align more effectively across institutions and countries.

Speakers and Discussion

The webinar will feature prominent experts in the field, including:

• Mikael Lakso, Associate Professor of Information Studies, Tampere University
• Nienke Roelants, Managing Director, Leuven University Press
• Dhara Snowden, Textbook Programme Manager, UCL Press
• Robert Wiese, Berlin Universities Publishing (BerlinUP) and TU Berlin

The session will be moderated by Vinciane Gaillard, Deputy Director for Research & Innovation at EUA.

This event is designed for a broad audience, including university leaders (rectors, vice-rectors, and heads of administration), research department staff, librarians, researchers, and representatives from other organizations. Registration is open until the webinar begins, and participation is free of charge.

A Future-Focused Approach to Scholarly Communication

This webinar is part of EUA’s new series, The Future of Scholarly Communication, which follows the success of the 2021 series on scholarly publishing. As outlined in the EUA Open Science Agenda 2025, scholarly communication is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and changing practices. The rising volume of publications, coupled with the growing number of Open Access outputs, underscores the need for innovative approaches to knowledge dissemination.

While Open Access is making research more accessible through models like diamond, green, and gold OA, many scholarly outputs—especially books—remain behind paywalls. Expanding Open Access to include long-form publications will ensure broader dissemination of knowledge and foster greater societal engagement with research.

As universities adapt to these changes, they will play a key role in shaping the future of academic communication and knowledge sharing. This webinar offers an opportunity to explore how institutions can lead the way in making all forms of research accessible to everyone.

For more information, visit EUA.