Advancing Open Access: A Case Study of Collaborative Models and Projects by Dutch University Presses

Abstract

"Advancing Open Access: A Case Study of Collaborative Models and Projects by Dutch University Presses"

In this presentation we will explore how Dutch University Presses (NUPs) have united to transform academic publishing through diamond open access. We'll dive into their collaborative efforts, innovative projects, and the creation of a joint catalogue, as part of a broader strategy to reshape the academic publishing landscape towards greater accessibility and inclusivity.

The collaboration between Dutch University Presses (NUPs), primarily diamond open access presses, began two years ago after recognizing the need for knowledge sharing and joint initiatives. Each university press within NUPs is founded on shared core principles: diamond open access, author-retained copyrights, journal title rights held by the editorial team, high scholarly quality, CC-BY licenses and diverse publication formats. Since 2022, regular thematic meetings have strengthened this partnership, aiming to enhance both collective and individual efforts. The goal is expand diamond publishing, challenging the traditional, commercial academic publishing model. This is not a utopia; we are witnessing similar initiatives emerging worldwide, confirming that a more accessible open science landscape is possible. The resources freed up can then flow back into research and education.

NUPs collaborate on developing and submitting joint projects to funding agencies, increasing approval chances and sharing the workload across institutions. Examples of current projects include:

1. Formal Collaboration Framework: Establishing a formal structure to facilitate collaboration among NUPs.
2. Semi-automatic XML Layout Techniques: This project aims to enhance journal publication quality and efficiency using semi-automatic XML layout techniques. It seeks to save time for editors and authors, reduce costs, improve output quality, and enhance accessibility, including audio options for the visually impaired. Additionally, it can facilitate the transition of editorial teams from commercial publishers to NUPs.
3. Joint Catalogue: This initiative by the six Dutch NUPs offers an online database of all diamond open access books and textbooks published by the NUPs.

In our presentation we will elaborate on the joint catalogue as an example of collaboration. The catalogue will includes scientific (peer-reviewed) books, non-peer-reviewed/popular science books, textbooks, dissertations, and special publications, both published and forthcoming. The objectives are to enhance visibility, serve as a showcase, promote new releases, demonstrate collaborative efforts, increase recognition, and improve metadata management efficiency. Thoth, an open-source metadata management system, has emerged as a promising solution for the Joint Catalogue.

Margreet Nieborg, University of Groningen, 0000-0001-9034-2853

Margreet Nieborg is a project manager and  head of the University of Groningen Press (UGP). The UGP is part of the University Library. Margreet is an educationalist and has led various projects within the University Library, including setting up the University Press in 2017. UGP is an example of a diamond open access university press that currently hosts journals, books, and textbooks.

Peter van Rees, University of Groningen, 0009-0004-4910-7359

Peter van Rees is an experienced IT application manager and metadata specialist in the field of academic libraries. His role in the University of Groningen Press (UGP) is to maintain and optimize the UGP data flow into and out of the library's infrastructure and beyond.