Exploration of new business models for scholarly publishing

What is it about?

This report (a) identifies elements of the current scholarly publishing systems that are worth protecting and retaining throughout this and future periods of transition; (b) explores business models of existing projects which hold promise; (c) outlines the characteristics of effective business models; (d) addresses the challenges of the transitional period we are entering; and (e) arrives at recommendations that might allow us to sustain high-quality scholarship at a time when the fundamental expectations of publishing are changing.

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Photo by James Tarbotton on Unsplash

Photo by James Tarbotton on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Within the scholarly communications ecosystem, scholarly publishers are a keystone species. University presses — as well as academic societies, research institutions, and other scholarly publishers — strive to fulfil our mission of 'making public the fruits of scholarly research' as effectively as possible within that ecosystem. While that mission has remained constant, in recent years the landscape in which we carry out this mission has altered dramatically.