Open Access: Principles and Practice for Learned Societies

Kathryn Spiller at ALPSP's recent Open Access seminar

What are the guiding principles and practical actions a learned society should consider when it approaches open access models?

With the implementation of new funding guidelines from RCUK and the Wellcome Trust looming this spring, this has been a pre-occupation for Kathryn Spiller from BioScientifica and ALPSP Chief Executive Audrey McCulloch.

Both feel the learned publishing community needs to come together to discuss what particular issues need to be considered for not-for-profit scholarly publishers.

Too often the debate is polarised between ideological extremes. But, as the recent ALPSP seminar on open access Beyond the Rhetoric clearly illustrated, there is an increasing range of issues to consider. Whether you publish in the arts, humanities, social sciences or STM; have open access or hybrid journals; or are considering best steps for monographs and reference.

(You can read Kathryn's reflections on launching a new open access journal here in January's Research Information. There are a number of posts from Beyond the Rhetoric seminar here on the ALPSP blog.)

This challenge has prompted ALPSP to collaborate with Kathryn to try to tackle some of the issues. The ALPSP Open Access Workshop: Guiding Principles and Practical Action for Learned Societies will be held on Friday 1 February at the Royal College of Pathologists. Part ask-an-expert, part peer-to-peer discussion, the workshop will bring together a range of speakers with particular insight and expertise.

Confirmed speakers include Graham Taylor from the Publishers Association, Lucy Robinson, Journals Publisher at Sage, Jim Milne, Managing Director at RSC Publishing, and Sally Hardy, Chief Executive of the Regional Studies Association.

There will be a panel discussion and scene setting, but unlike our previous events, we will also include facilitated round table discussions with colleagues from learned societies to discuss guiding principles. ALPSP will take notes and these will be written up for all members and attendees.

Places are strictly limited and are going fast. Book online here.