Here you can find a collection of resources on open access books for publishers, gathered by the Open Access Books Network. We created some of these ourselves, and some were created and shared by other organisations for the benefit of all.
‘Publisher Spotlight’ blog posts: exploring publisher platforms
This blog series explores the different platforms presses use to publish their open access (OA) books. Covering platforms including PubPub, Open Monograph Press, Fulcrum, Pressbooks and Ubiquity, these contributions from publishers go into the advantages and disadvantages of their chosen platform for their press, as well as why they chose the platform they did and the different factors they balanced when doing so. We hope this series will be informative for everyone interested in what OA book publishing involves, but particularly useful for anyone considering setting up their own press.
Collection of case studies on business models for open access books
This collection documents the diverse ways that presses in different parts of the world have set up and now maintain their OA operations. The presses included have devised their own approaches to tackle the challenges of publishing OA books; they are structured in different ways in a variety of national and, in some cases, institutional contexts. These case studies may help to illustrate the reasons behind the choices made by the presses, as well as detailing the models themselves and inspire other publishers. Access the collection.
Jisc New University Press toolkit
This toolkit, created by Jisc, gives guidance to new university presses and library-led publishing ventures as well as those with a hybrid model, who publish open access and non-open access material. Access the toolkit.
COPIM’s toolkit for running an Opening the Future programme at an academic press
This toolkit gives comprehensive and practical information on how to establish and run a collective library funding model for open access books, called ‘Opening the Future’. In this model, a press offers closed-access backlist titles to libraries for subscription, and uses the revenue to fund new OA books. Access the toolkit.
The Open Book Collective (OBC)
The Open Book Collective brings together OA publishers, OA publishing service providers, libraries, and other research institutions to create a new, mutually supportive ecosystem for the thriving of OA book publishing. The Collective accepts applications from interested presses who meet their membership criteria. Find out more about the OBC.
Experimental Publishing Compendium
The Experimental Publishing Compendium is a guide and reference for scholars, publishers, developers, librarians, and designers who want to challenge, push and redefine the shape, form and rationale of scholarly books. The compendium brings together tools, practices, and books to promote the publication of experimental scholarly works. Access the Compendium.
This video series seeks to dispel a number of key myths around OA books. In these short videos, common statements are addressed by fellow community members, informally known as ‘the OA Mythbusters’. Read more about the series.
OAPEN Open Access Books Toolkit
The OAPEN Open Access Books Toolkit aims to help book authors to better understand OA book publishing and to increase trust in OA books. This free and public information resource includes a vast number of short articles on OA book publishing following the research lifecycle, which may be helpful for you and your authors interested in OA book publishing. Access the Toolkit.
Open Publishing Associations
There are a number of new national associations that gather together institutional presses who are geared toward OA publishing. Some of the ones the OABN has collaborated with include: the Open Institutional Publishing Association (OIPA) in the UK, the Irish Open Access Publishers (IOAP) in Ireland, the New University Presses (NUPs) in The Netherlands, and AG Universitätsverlage in Germany.
Useful resources from the Irish Open Access Publishers (IOAP)
The IOAP has a webpage listing useful resources in a number of different topics for OA publishers. These include Publishing Initiatives, Workflows and Values, Publishing Platforms, Licences, and Peer Review, among other topics. Access the page.