{"id":25577,"date":"2024-04-16T11:48:09","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T10:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/?p=25577"},"modified":"2024-04-16T11:48:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T10:48:09","slug":"update-on-supporting-open-access-for-books-book-chapters-and-edited-collections-at-kent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/isnews\/update-on-supporting-open-access-for-books-book-chapters-and-edited-collections-at-kent\/","title":{"rendered":"Update on supporting Open Access for books, book chapters and edited collections at Kent"},"content":{"rendered":"

From January 2024 <\/span>Open Access requirements for books, book chapters and edited collections arising from UKRI funded projects<\/span><\/a> have existed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Open Research team in the library have been developing guidance and processes to enable Kent researchers to comply. This is an update on progress.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

January-April activity<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

An email from our DVC for Research and Innovation communicated the essential information about the changes. Researchers were asked to complete a short Microsoft Form to help us identify needs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

22 researchers responded, 8 of which related to in-scope UKRI publications.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We followed up with meetings with these researchers to discuss their options in detail.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This provided us with 4 test cases where we could support our researchers and also develop our internal processes at the same time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All our applications to use UKRI\u2019s central funds have been successful.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have committed \u00a318,900 to pay for OA for one chapter and two monographs. \u00a316,900 of this will be re-claimed from UKRI.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We needed a system for recording information and managing applications. We had anticipated that JISC\u2019s new version of their platform Monitor would address this, but it was withdrawn at short notice. Consequently we are building our own system for managing and monitoring Kent Open Access finance using Power BI. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guidance\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve published a web guide <\/span>Make your book or chapter Open Access<\/span><\/a> with tools, resources and links to academics talking about their experiences of publishing OA<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Detailed guidance about <\/span>UKRI funded projects and requirements for books, chapters and edited collections<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We need to apply to UKRI for funds on behalf of Kent researchers so we\u2019ve developed a <\/span>Open Access Longform funding application form<\/span><\/a> in Topdesk for researchers to complete to enable us to do this.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Funding<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u00a330,000 of the University\u2019s Research Enhancing the Environment Funding (REEF) was secured for Open Access book publishing. Having established that there are UKRI projects at Kent that require OA support and explored the options for use of these funds, we have refined an approach for the best use of the REEF. We agreed with our Research and Innovation Support Department\u00a0 that this \u00a330,000 will be used as \u2018seed capital\u2019 to create the foundation for rolling funding which will sustain us throughout future years.\u00a0 UKRI require us to pay the initial invoices for OA publication. We are able to re-claim this money back from UKRI at twice-yearly intervals, but the library needs funds from which to make the initial payments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are still working on a process to manage funds across financial years. It is likely that, due to the time required to publish, funds will be committed in one financial year and reclaimed in another.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Problems and principles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although UKRI will re-imburse the library for the cost of OA publishing, they have set \u00a310,000 as the maximum amount that we can reclaim for a whole book and \u00a31,000 for a chapter.\u00a0 UKRI state that these figures\u00a0 represent a sector average.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The action that should be taken when these amounts are exceeded is not clear; \u2018costing too much\u2019 or \u2018a quote in excess of the UKRI maximum\u201d are not recognised by UKRI as causes for exemption from requirements.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>We consulted with our peers in the sector to see what approach they are taking at other universities.\u202f This indicated a mixed approach to solving this shared issue. It highlighted a tension between<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(1) a researcher-centric model and an aim to make OA publishing easy for our researchers\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(2) UKRI\u2019s financial model and sustainability aims.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>We are trying to navigate through this. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At Kent we have concluded that we do not, in principle, wish to set a precedent for OA costs that are unsustainable<\/span>, not <\/span>transparent<\/span> and <\/span>therefore <\/span>do not appear to <\/span>re<\/span>present<\/span> value for money.\u202f We <\/span>propose that we <\/span>will not provide top ups or support Open Access costs beyond the \u00a310,000 and \u00a31,000 limits. We will accommodate some leeway for VAT costs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Where publishers quotes do appear excessive we are contacting publishers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n