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:
- Directory of Open Access Books
- Knowledge Unlatched
- Open Monograph Press
- OAPEN Library and OAPEN-UK project
- SpringerOpen books
- Living Books about Life
- Open Humanities Press book titles
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