How Library Publishing Programs Can Support Journals Leaving a Major Publisher in Favor of OA

Abstract

Recent events in scholarly publishing, such as the editorial board of Elsevier’s Lingua resigning en masse, have sparked the interest of other journal editors in searching for more open and sustainable models of publishing. This presentation provides an overview of IUPUI University Library's open access journal publishing program and its experience helping two journals transition from a subscription-based model to an open access one. In many ways, leaving a for-profit publisher looks similar to starting a new journal, but 'flipping' presents unique challenges, such as cessation of editor compensation, and unique opportunities, such as the potential for a journal buyback. This presentation also outlines the steps involved in leaving a for-profit publisher to create an open access journal, how editors can leverage existing infrastructure and social networks to successfully make the transition, guidance for library publishing programs working with journals making the change, and thoughts on which types of journals are ideal candidates.