Open Access Publishing: HSRC Press case study Presenter: Karen Bruns (Marketing Manager: HSRC Press)

Introduction to the HSRC Press Directorate of the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa Open Access scholarly publisher Dual medium publisher: simultaneous print and online release Social science and humanities, focused on South Africa Publish HSRC research and externally authored works

Directorate of the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa

Open Access scholarly publisher

Dual medium publisher: simultaneous print and online release

Social science and humanities, focused on South Africa

Publish HSRC research and externally authored works

The Access Principle ‘ a commitment to scholarship carries with it a responsibility to extend the circulation as far as possible, to all who are interested and all who might profit by it’ (Willinsky, 2006) Centuries old principle: Alexandria, mosque libraries, Nature etc. Inherent in the scholarly enterprise Access declining

‘ a commitment to scholarship carries with it a responsibility to extend the circulation as far as possible, to all who are interested and all who might profit by it’ (Willinsky, 2006)

Centuries old principle: Alexandria, mosque libraries, Nature etc.

Inherent in the scholarly enterprise

Access declining

The HSRC Press Principles Public funding = Public benefit Commitment to scholarship = Commitment to dissemination Intellectual property belongs to the ‘commons’ – products you pay for Technologies must be appropriate for the socio-economic context of use

Public funding = Public benefit

Commitment to scholarship = Commitment to dissemination

Intellectual property belongs to the ‘commons’ – products you pay for

Technologies must be appropriate for the socio-economic context of use

4 Myths of Open Access Publishing

Myth 1: Sales will fall! 2003/4 all publications free online access: sale increased by more than 200% 2007/8 effective USA distribution: sales increased by more than 300% Random, Harper Collins, Wiley: ‘early evidence shows an increase in sales’

2003/4 all publications free online access: sale increased by more than 200%

2007/8 effective USA distribution:

sales increased by more than 300%

Random, Harper Collins, Wiley: ‘early evidence shows an increase in sales’

Evidence Open Access + Distribution Management = Improved Sales

Open Access + Distribution Management = Improved Sales

Myth 2: Academics will not take your publications seriously! Citation count = indicator academic engagement Scholarly book citation survey

Citation count = indicator academic engagement

Scholarly book citation survey

Evidence High online visibility = High impact

High online visibility = High impact

Myth 3: Authors don’t want that! 2003: approximately 20 submissions 2007: approximately 100 submissions Some authors now requesting Open Access

2003: approximately 20 submissions

2007: approximately 100 submissions

Some authors now requesting Open Access

Evidence More than anything else, Scholarly Authors want to be read!

More than anything else,

Scholarly Authors want to be read!

Myth 4: It’s the new ‘silver bullet’! 2007 HSRC Press stakeholder survey: Quality remains the number 1 qualifier ‘Free’ is not enough in the attention economy Getting the basics right is still the new ‘silver bullet’ Be the best at something!

2007 HSRC Press stakeholder survey: Quality remains the number 1 qualifier

‘Free’ is not enough in the attention economy

Getting the basics right is still the new ‘silver bullet’

Be the best at something!

Evidence Quality and consistency are still basic requirements. Open Access gives you leverage.

Quality and consistency are still basic requirements. Open Access gives you leverage.

HSRC Press Model: Overview Simultaneous release of all electronic and print versions Publications are peer reviewed ‘ Best practice’ production standards Active ‘issue-based’ marketing Engage local and global dialogue

Simultaneous release of all electronic and print versions

Publications are peer reviewed

‘ Best practice’ production standards

Active ‘issue-based’ marketing

Engage local and global dialogue

HSRC Press Model: Copyright Free full-text online access Free not-for-profit use License publishing rights from authors Free serial and excerpt rights to mass media

Free full-text online access

Free not-for-profit use

License publishing rights from authors

Free serial and excerpt rights to mass media

HSRC Press Model: Online Reach

Conclusion Opening access can increase visibility, sales and impact The publishing basics remain important

Opening access can increase visibility, sales and impact

The publishing basics remain important

HSRC Press Model: Income Public funding for fixed overheads (salaries, rental, services) Own income for publishing programme, from sales and subventions Current split: 40% funded, 60% own income

Public funding for fixed overheads (salaries, rental, services)

Own income for publishing programme, from sales and subventions

Current split: 40% funded, 60% own income