Presentation delivered at the OpenAIRE workshop on Sustainable non-APC publishing models (February 26-27 2019) in Bielefeld, Germany

1. Knowledge Unlatched
Diamond Open Access Models for Journals
A perspective from KU: Pro‘s, con‘s & moving forward
Tom Mosterd & Max Mosterd
Bielefeld, February 26th, 2019

2. Knowledge Unlatched2
▪ The current space for non-APC publishing models: Diamond Open Access
▪ Challenges
▪ The role of Knowledge Unlatched (KU)
▪ Learnings so far
▪ A transformative approach
Topics

3. Knowledge Unlatched3
▪ Diamond Open Access: Supporting by a consortium
▪ Open Library of Humanities, Scoap3 & KU Select Journals
*Not all journals are fully covered by SCOAP3
** KU Journal Supporters Only
The current space for non-APC publishing models: Diamond Open Access
Supporters: 3000+
Journals*: 11+
Supporters: 210+
Journals: 27 journals
Supporters**: 120+
Journals: 25+ journals

4. Knowledge Unlatched4
▪ Pro’s:
▪ Increasing attention for non-APC models as an alternative for Gold Open
Access, especially for the Humanities & Social Sciences
▪ Strong community supported approach to coordinate global funding
▪ Can offer a more viable approach for the HSS where APC-funding is limited
to non-existent
▪ Removes financial burden for authors, smooth author-experience
▪ Cons:
▪ Can be applied on a large scale, for subscription journals?
▪ Challenging to implement without dedicated funding (e.g. APCs for Gold)
▪ Mixed-publisher package with single titles difficult to move budget*
▪ For new OA titles, more difficult to find funding*
▪ *For KU Select Journals (may not apply for OLH / SCOAP3)
Diamond Open Access: Pro’s and con’s

5. Knowledge Unlatched5
▪ Argument showing ”a better deal” compared to an APC-driven model works for
research intensive institutions
▪ Much support for the APC-free component in theory, yet less in practice
▪ More challenging to convince access-focused institutions to act
▪ Often challenging to organize funding internally
▪ For subscription journals, often:
▪ Significant part of the subscribing institutions have limited publication output
▪ Considerable number of institutions with researchers publishing in the journal
are not subscribed
Feedback from institutions: Learnings So Far

6. Knowledge Unlatched6
▪ Coordination between publishers & funders (libraries, consortia & research
institutions)
The role of Knowledge Unlatched

7. Knowledge Unlatched7
Based On Experience: Can Identify Four Main Customer Segments
Publications
Readership
LowHigh
Low High

8. Knowledge Unlatched8
▪ Example model: Subscribe to open deals (diamond)
▪ Readership value: normal distribution of cost per use metrics, signalling high
access value to many current subscribers (e.g. readership value)
▪ Journal portfolio: best for a focussed portfolio of journal content with consolidated
customer base in terms of regions
▪ Pros:
▪ Institutional option to internally migrate budget is obvious for a portfolio
▪ Adding new funding channels, such as funders can directly imply a subscribe
to open discount to existing subscribers
▪ In theory, clear incentives for all to take part
▪ Cons:
▪ Timing challenging to reach, inform, and convince all current subscribers
about a proposed flip within, say, a one-year time-frame
▪ Free rider risk and consequential double-dipping negotiations
Focussing on the read-component

9. Knowledge Unlatched9
▪ Example model: National / large consortia deals
▪ Publisher value: normal distribution of publication output by institutions, signalling
high publisher value to many current subscribers (e.g. publication value)
▪ Journal portfolio: best for a focussed portfolio of journal content with consolidated
customer base in terms of regions
▪ Pros:
▪ Potentially transparent and pragmatic model to realise full OA
▪ Allow for large volume deals of journals and comparatively rapid transition
▪ May allow for consortia to reallocate funding amongst consortia members
▪ Cons:
▪ Timing challenging migrate budget from read-driven system to publication-
driven system for publication-intensive institutions
▪ Difficult to cater for non-affiliated authors and less well-funded institutions
▪ National consortia negotiations as the “box”, missing out on global perspective
and possibly troubling transformation for others
Focussing on the publish-component

10. Knowledge Unlatched10
KU Plan-S model
▪ Focus on hybrid/subscription journal portfolios from societies and traditional
publishers
▪ Global approach to support true transformation into full OA via a ‘framework’ deal

11. Knowledge Unlatched
Thank you! Questions?
Tom Mosterd & Max Mosterd
Bielefeld, February 26th, 2019