Open Access at UC Press

Why is OA Important to UC Press? • Current business models are unsustainable:

– Loss of c.$10,000 on the average monograph – Massive shifts in dynamics of journals market

• It’s our institutional policy: – UC Senate adopted OA mandate in spring 2013

• But most importantly, our mission is “to drive progressive change…[by giving]

” to the scholarship we publish

Our Vision of a Better Future • Take advantage of current technologies • A collaborative/community model where costs, risks and benefits

are shared • Increase discoverability, accessibility and usability • Disaggregate and re-assemble publishing value chain • Transparent standards for valuation of peer review • Transparent standards for cost and profit

Digital Product Development Model

From Vision to Product: Journals • Concept planning and research complete:

– Nearly 100 interviews with key stakeholders (faculty, librarians, senior administrators)

– Identification and assessment of potential technology partners – Development of business model – Launch funds from our Venture Fund and external fundraising

• Key features of our OA journal model: – Low non-profit publication charges – Facilitates subsidy of poorer fields by well-funded ones – Costs of different components of process are transparent – Opens up peer review

• Key success metrics – usual journal metrics plus: – Attain target article publication rates – Generate cross-subsidies for disciplines without APC funding

From Vision to Business Model: Books

• Concept planning underway: – Faculty focus groups; interviews with key decision-makers – Potential technology partners identified

• Outline of model: – Available OA in digital form (which formats?) – Available for purchase via (outsourced) POD and in other

“for sale” digital formats such as Kindle – Publication fee per title (shared model) – All titles subject to the same thorough peer review and EC

approval

Unique Challenges for Monographs • How do we ensure that the rigor of these titles is

recognized and that the academy will recognize their scholarly legitimacy?

• How do we ensure that this is viewed as an attractive publishing option for faculty, and not one of last resort?

• Can we create a viable and sustainable funding model by sharing the burden?

• What other tools/features might be attractive (e.g. reviews, primary sources, multimedia etc.)?

Next Steps • Finalization of business/product models • Selection of technology partners • Appoint editorial boards • Launch both products in fall 2014 • Start publishing in spring 2015