The document discusses the HSRC Press, an open access scholarly publisher in South Africa, emphasizing its commitment to disseminating research widely in the social sciences and humanities. It debunks myths about open access publishing, showing that it can lead to increased sales and visibility for authors, while maintaining quality as essential. The HSRC Press model includes simultaneous print and online releases, peer review, and a focus on public benefit, with funding derived from both public sources and sales.

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 4 Myths of Open Access Publishing

6. 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’

7. Evidence Open Access + Distribution Management = Improved Sales

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

9. Evidence High online visibility = High impact

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

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

12. 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!

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. HSRC Press Model: Online Reach

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

18. 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