The impact of open access on academic book publishing: Opportunities and challenges for authors and publishers

Open access (OA) has transformed academic book publishing, offering authors and publishers new opportunities and challenges. OA makes academic books more accessible, visible, and citable by removing paywalls, democratizing knowledge dissemination and promoting global collaboration. With mandates from governments and funding agencies worldwide, publicly funded research is increasingly expected to be freely accessible. Authors can reach diverse audiences outside academia through OA, enhancing societal impact. OA publishing models face issues like quality perception, copyright management, and financial sustainability. Publishers must adapt traditional revenue streams to OA's open frameworks while maintaining editorial and production standards. OA's author-pays model may marginalize scholars from resource-constrained regions by denying them access without institutional or financial support. Lack of standardization across OA licenses and funding mechanisms hinders adoption and scalability. In contrast, crowdfunding, institutional subsidies, and transformative agreements are addressing these issues and paving the way for inclusive and sustainable OA publishing. This chapter examines how technological advances, policy frameworks,  and market forces affect OA in academic book publishing. It recommends best practices and strategies for authors and publishers navigating the OA landscape by analyzing recent trends and case studies. The paper concludes that OA's potential and challenges must be addressed collaboratively and adaptively to ensure equitable and impactful academic publishing in the digital age.

Keywords: Open access, ISBN, Book publishing, Book publishers, Publish thesis, Publish monographs, Low-cost publishing, Affordable Publishers, Google Scholar.

Citation: Rane, N. L., Choudhary, S., & Rane, J. (2024). The impact of open access on academic book publishing: Opportunities and challenges for authors and publishers. In How to Publish Academic Books: A Guide to Publishing Monographs, Edited Volumes, Textbooks, and Theses (pp. 52-99). Deep Science Publishing. https://doi.org/10.70593/978-81-982935-8-9_2

2.1 Introduction

Open access (OA) has transformed knowledge dissemination and consumption in academic publishing (Epstein, 2002; Einsohn & Schwartz, 2019; Thompson, 2005). Open access, originally designed to boost research article visibility, has slowly transformed academic book publishing, affecting authors, publishers, and readers (Wang et al., 2019; Darnton, 1999; Germano, 2016; Patil et al., 2024a). This shift is from subscription-based publishing to open access to scholarly content. This development allows democratized knowledge access but raises sustainability, intellectual property, and publishing economics issues. Understanding how open access affects academic book publishing is crucial in the digital age, when information is expected to be instantaneous and universal. Academic books, previously behind paywalls, are now more visible and accessible thanks to open access (Thompson, 2013; Hviid et al., 2019; Patil et al., 2024b). Authors reach audiences outside academic institutions with improved dissemination. This expanded reach is especially important in developing countries, where institutions and individuals struggle to afford academic books. Open access supports the global education and research equity agenda. Open access models like Open Research Library and Plan S allow researchers, students, and policymakers to access vital academic resources without financial or institutional barriers.

Open access presents publishers with opportunities and challenges (Salvador & Benghozi, 2021; Meti & Malipatil, 2024). Freemium and institutional funding are enabled by it. Publishers can explore sponsorships, crowdfunding, and author or institution fees for open access works. But these models challenge traditional revenue structures, raising sustainability concerns. Smaller publishers and those without institutional support may find open access production and dissemination costs prohibitive. The industry struggles with these dynamics, raising questions about open access academic book publishing's future. Open access also affects academic publishing IP. Creative Commons licensing and copyright protection are debated because unrestricted access risks scholarly content being copied, remixed, or sold. Authors and publishers must navigate these complexities to preserve open access's spirit of knowledge sharing while protecting intellectual contributions. This balance depends on choosing the right licensing model, such as Creative Commons Attribution or Non-Commercial. However, global intellectual property regulations vary, complicating this issue and making it a key open access ecosystem topic. Open access books' perceived quality and prestige are another issue (Hall, 2013; Nelson, 2006; Infelise, 2013; Rane et al., 2024a). Open access models are growing, but some authors and institutions still associate them with predatory practices or lower academic standards. These concerns are fueled by questionable publishers exploiting open access, necessitating strict quality control and accreditation. To ensure open access publication credibility, leading academic publishers and organizations like Springer Nature and the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) emphasize peer review and certification. Building author, reader, and institution trust requires rigorous academic standards.

Technology enhances open access's impact on academic book publishing (Lee et al., 2010; Coser et al., 1982; Rane et al., 2024b). Content management systems and metadata tagging make open access books easy to distribute and discover. AI and machine learning have simplified manuscript editing, peer review, and audience targeting in publishing workflows. The rise of data analytics helps authors and publishers tailor content to diverse audiences by revealing readership patterns and impact. However, these technological advances require significant investment, complicating matters for smaller publishers and authors without institutional affiliations. Policymakers and funding bodies both influence academic book publishing's open access trajectory. Horizon Europe and national funding agencies often require open access publishing for research grants. These policies encourage authors to use open access and force publishers to innovate and adapt. The global disparity in funding and support for open access publishing fragments the landscape, with different regions adopting and implementing it.

2.2 Open access publishing models for academic books

The world of academic publishing has changed dramatically thanks to open access (OA) (Weedon, 2017; Rane et al., 2024c; Rane et al., 2024d). The open access movement began with journal articles but now includes academic books, making scholarly communication more inclusive, transparent, and accessible. Due to increased demand for research access, equity in knowledge dissemination, and digital technology, open access publishing models for academic books have grown (Murray & Squires, 2013; Kovač et al., 2019; Lesser, 2004). Open access in scholarly publishing is linked to the digital revolution. Traditional publishing used physical print runs, which made books expensive and limited readership. The internet and digital technologies made book distribution cheaper and more widespread. Demand for more transparent and accessible knowledge led to open access book publishing. For knowledge exchange, innovation, and social progress, publicly funded research should be freely available to the public, which is the basis of the OA book movement.

Traditional publishers control book distribution and charge high prices, especially for academic monographs, which are too expensive for students and researchers (Tian & Martin, 2010; Baverstock & Bowen, 2019). On the other hand, open access lets anyone read academic books online for free, removing financial barriers to research and learning. Academic books published under an OA model are often funded by government agencies, institutions, or research organizations that want their research widely accessible. There are several open access academic book publishing models with different features and financial structures. Gold and green open access models are the main types.

Gold OA

Book OA gold is perhaps the most well-known and discussed. This model makes the entire book free online upon publication (Engels et al., 2018; Rane, 2024; Rane et al., 2024e). Article processing charges (APCs), book processing charges (BPCs), or government or research grants fund publishing costs for authors or institutions. The book is free to read, expanding its audience. Gold open access BPCs vary by publisher, book size and scope, and services provided (e.g., editorial support, copyediting, typesetting). These fees range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Gold OA provides high visibility and accessibility, but authors without external funding or institutional support may struggle financially. Several platforms and publishers offer gold OA academic books. Springer Open, Cambridge Open Engage, and Ubiquity Press are examples. Authors can publish their books under an open access license on these platforms, ensuring free access and academic standards.

Green Free Access

Self-archiving, or green open access, involves authors uploading book manuscripts to an institutional or subject repository after an embargo (Canoy et al., 2006; Adema & Schmidt, 2010; Steele, 2008). This model involves a traditional publisher publishing the book, but the author retains the right to deposit a draft or version in a public repository. This allows the book's content to become freely available after the publisher's embargo. Green open access for books is more common in established publishing models. The author's deposited version may not be the final published version, but readers and researchers can use it. Many universities and research institutions have green open access institutional repositories that allow authors to share their work quickly. The green OA model offers an alternative to the gold model's financial constraints, but it still has issues. Authors may only upload drafts or pre-prints of the book, and there may be long embargo periods before the work becomes freely available. Green OA may not be as visible and discoverable as gold OA, which provides immediate access to published work.

Diamond- Open Access

Diamond open access is another emerging model that combines gold and green open access. Institutions, funders, or other non-commercial entities cover publication and production costs in this model. Authors pay nothing, and readers can access the content immediately. Diamond OA transfers payment to the institution or funder, unlike gold OA. The diamond model is appealing because it removes financial barriers for authors and readers. Diamond OA is less common in book publishing than gold and green models, but several initiatives, especially in Europe, are pushing for its adoption. Open Humanities Press and Public Knowledge Project allow scholars to publish this way. The open access model for academic books benefits authors, readers, and the academic community.

More Citations and Visibility

Open access books are more visible than traditionally published ones because anyone with an internet connection can read them. As research becomes more accessible, citation rates rise. According to studies, open access publications are cited more than those behind paywalls, which boosts scholarly work and knowledge dissemination.

Knowledge Dissemination Equity

One of the main benefits of open access publishing is knowledge democratization. Open access removes financial barriers to academic resources, allowing people worldwide—especially in low- and middle-income countries—to access cutting-edge research. This promotes academic equity and global idea exchange.

More Effective Dissemination

Open access platforms accelerate research dissemination. Books printed in limited quantities may take months or years to reach a global audience with traditional publishers. However, open access publishing allows global distribution immediately. Authors can publish and share their work faster, spreading new ideas and discoveries.

Sustainability, Impact

Open access publishing models sustain research by making books freely available forever. OA books are usually archived in digital repositories for future researchers. This accessibility preserves important research for future use and informs fieldwork.

Open Access Issues for Academic Books

Open access publishing for academic books has many advantages, but it also has drawbacks that must be addressed for long-term success.

Financing and Sustainability

Open access publishing models' financial burden on authors and institutions is a major issue. With the gold model, open access publishing can be prohibitively expensive. Journal fees can be difficult to afford for many authors, especially those from underfunded institutions. Open access publishing models may fail without adequate funding.

Quality Assurance and Peer Review

The quality of open access books depends on rigorous peer review and editing. Traditional publishers have systems to ensure book quality, but some open access publishers may cut corners to save money. Academic standards may be lowered and low-quality research published. OA books must have strong peer review to meet academic standards.

License and Copyright Issues

Open access authors retain copyright, which is a major benefit. Managing licencing and copyright can be complicated. Authors must navigate copyright laws and choose licenses (e.g., Creative Commons) that allow free distribution while protecting their IP. Academic book open access has a bright future due to several trends. These include government and funding agency support for open access initiatives, diamond open access model expansion, and the use of blockchain and AI to streamline publishing. Collaboration between academic institutions, libraries, and publishers may also lead to more sustainable open access book funding models. Open access publishing will grow as more research organizations adopt open access policies and require publicly funded research to be freely available.

2.3 Opportunities for authors in open access book publishing

Open access (OA) book publishing has transformed academic publishing, giving authors more chances to reach a wider audience, gain academic recognition, and collaborate globally. Traditional publishing models use institutional subscriptions or paywalls, but open access lets authors publish their work online for anyone with an internet connection. Open access book publishing offers authors increased visibility, academic impact, collaboration, and financial sustainability, as well as emerging trends in OA publishing.

Increased visibility and global reach

Open access book publishing gives authors greater visibility, which is a major benefit. By making scholarly works freely available to readers worldwide, OA helps authors reach a wider audience than traditional publishing models. Now that their books are instantly available to anyone with an internet connection, authors can quickly distribute and engage with their works. OA books are especially useful for early-career researchers and niche scholars who may be limited by traditional publishers. By choosing open access, authors can avoid paywalled academic publishers' restrictions on access to their books to well-funded academic institutions or specialized readerships. This global reach allows for more collaboration, citation, and feedback from academic peers and a wider and more diverse audience. Search engines, repositories, and databases index OA books, making them more discoverable. Open access authors are more likely to be included in digital archives, which boosts book visibility and preservation. Authors can track downloads, citations, and references on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and institutional repositories.

Improved Academic Impact and Citations

The open access model affects authors' academic visibility, especially citation rates. Open access books receive more citations than paywalled ones, according to research. The OA model removes barriers to access, allowing researchers, scholars, and students worldwide to read, cite, and build on the work. Authors benefit from higher citation rates in academic recognition and career advancement. Academic reputation, tenure, and research funding depend on citations. The open access model increases a book's visibility and likelihood of being cited by other researchers, boosting the author's scholarly capital. Open access also allows policymakers, practitioners, and the public to read the work, increasing cross-disciplinary citations and influencing practice outside academia. Many journals and funding agencies now value open access works and reward researchers who publish them. Some research funding agencies require or encourage open access to publicly funded research outputs. Open access authors may find it easier to get funding or work with other researchers, institutions, or industries that value open access publications as the model gains popularity in academia.

Better Collaboration and Interdisciplinarity

Open access books increase author visibility and collaboration, especially across disciplines and locations. Authors can share their work with researchers, academics, and professionals worldwide without expensive journal subscriptions or print publication costs with OA. Open access promotes interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Many groundbreaking ideas come from interdisciplinary research, and open access makes it easy for researchers to find and interact. Authors can open new research avenues, partnerships, and collaborations with global scholars. Innovation requires cross-disciplinary engagement, making this crucial for authors in emerging or interdisciplinary fields. Open access also encourages non-academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and activists to interact. This type of engagement can open new doors for applied research and real-world impact in climate change, health policy, and technology. Authors can become thought leaders, influencing practice and policy and forging non-academic partnerships, by choosing open access.

Financial Sustainability, Cost Models

Authors, especially early-career researchers, may struggle to pay open access publication fees. However, OA publishing has changed rapidly, and new funding models are helping authors. Author Processing Charge (APC) is a common OA book publishing model in which authors or their institutions pay for publishing, peer review, and editing. This model has been criticized for creating barriers for authors from low-income institutions or developing countries, but many publishers, especially university presses, are offering financial aid, waivers, or discounts. APCs are not the only financial sustainability model in OA book publishing. Some publishers share revenue from print and eBook sales with the author. Some publishers use government or institutional grants to cover open access publication costs, allowing authors to publish without financial burden. Authors can also crowdfund their publication costs from their readers or the public. This model engages the author's audience early on and lets readers support valuable work, increasing visibility and financial sustainability. Many open access platforms and publishers offer a mix of these models, giving authors more funding options. These new financial models help authors publish without financial strain and monetize their work beyond traditional publishing.

Innovative OA Book Publishing Trends

Authors have exciting opportunities in open access book publishing due to several trends. First, OA book publishing is receiving more support as academic institutions and funders recognize its value. Many universities and research institutions offer authors OA publishing funds to help cover publication costs. Large-scale OA repositories like Open Book Publishers and OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) are also being used to make books freely available and increase author distribution. OA monograph publishing, which was difficult due to high production costs and low sales, is growing. Publishers are trying hybrid models that combine OA with traditional sales models to make OA monographs more sustainable. Hybrid publishing lets authors publish open access and sell physical copies. Also, OA book chapters are becoming more popular. Authors who cannot publish a book can publish chapters or collections of chapters under open access. OA publishing is becoming more flexible and allows authors to focus on specific research areas without writing a book. Interactive features, multimedia content, and improved data visualization are making OA books more engaging and accessible. Books with videos, audio clips, and 3D models are more interactive and appealing to readers in various fields.

Academic Freedom and Content Control

One of the less-discussed but crucial benefits of OA book publishing is greater author control and academic freedom. Traditional publishers limit content length, structure, and editorial direction to meet market and financial needs. But OA publishing gives authors more control over the publishing process. Authors can shape their books according to their research vision without commercial pressure or editorial guidelines that may limit their scholarly integrity. Authors have more topic and format options on OA platforms. The open access model allows scholars to freely express their ideas in monographs, chapters, and multimedia-rich publications. This is especially helpful for authors of unconventional or pioneering research that may not sell but has great academic value. It also allows authors to fully express their research without having to satisfy a publisher's commercial interests. A major advantage of most OA models is that authors retain copyright, allowing them to share, reuse, or repurpose their work in other contexts (e.g., lectures, blogs, or other publications). In traditional publishing, copyright often belongs to the publisher.

Direct reader/stakeholder engagement

Traditional publishers control distribution channels, making it difficult for authors to interact directly with their readers. Authors can interact with readers, students, practitioners, and policymakers affected by their research on OA platforms. Feedback on digital platforms, discussions, and Q&A sessions can help authors understand how their work is received and used. Authors of books on sustainability, technology, or healthcare can directly reach professionals and policymakers who may benefit from their findings. Direct engagement improves understanding and influences real-world practices. Open-access platforms allow readers to comment, share, and collaborate with the author on follow-up projects or studies, creating a dynamic and active relationship between author and audience. Authors can track how their books are used and cited in real time, unlike traditional publishing. Academia.edu, ResearchGate, and institutional repositories let authors see who downloads or cites their work, helping them tailor future research or engage with interested parties. This immediate feedback loop promotes active and responsive academic dialogue.

Long-term accessibility and preservation

Open access publishing improves long-term scholarly access and preservation. Traditional publishing models may make books inaccessible due to financial constraints, out-of-print status, or subscription expiration. OA platforms provide perpetual, unrestricted access to content, preserving an author's work for future readers, scholars, and researchers. Digital archives and repositories preserve OA books. These platforms keep books searchable and accessible decades after publication, enabling ongoing engagement. This is crucial for authors in fields where their work may become more relevant over time or for works that address long-standing issues like climate change, human rights, or public health. Many OA publishers are members of trusted digital preservation networks like CLOCKSS (Controlled Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) or LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe), which store their books' digital versions in multiple locations worldwide to prevent data loss or platform shutdowns. This feature keeps a scholar's work accessible and discoverable forever.

Career advancement and networking

Early-career researchers seeking professional recognition can network through open access publishing. Authors can connect with like-minded researchers, practitioners, and scholars from diverse backgrounds by publishing their work openly and engaging with readers globally, which can lead to new collaboration, funding, or research projects. OA publishing platforms and conferences improve networking. Open access initiatives, panels, and symposiums can connect authors with academic publishers, research institutions, and other thought leaders. This exposure may lead to invitations to collaborate on high-profile projects, advancing the author's career. OA books also boost author visibility in academic publishing networks. Scholarly institutions, grant-giving bodies, and funding agencies increasingly value open access publishing as part of their funding criteria. Due to the importance of open access to research, many funding agencies, such as the EU's Horizon 2020 program, support and even require OA publishing. Thus, OA publishing may improve authors' chances of receiving funding or grants.

Moneymaking Options

Authors can make money from open access books, even though they provide free content. Certain OA publishers allow authors to sell print copies of their work through print-on-demand or traditional retail channels. This hybrid model lets authors reach academic and general audiences while still distributing their books for free online. Authors can also monetize their work by creating online courses, workshops, or webinars based on the OA book. These monetization methods let authors profit from their research while maintaining open access. Some authors use their OA books as academic credentialing, using their visibility and impact to secure consulting or speaking gigs. OA books can also increase publishing opportunities. Some authors publish OA to gain traction before signing with a traditional publisher. The open access model can generate visibility and reader interest that leads to traditional publisher book and article contracts.

Research Integrity, Peer Review

The open access model promotes publishing transparency. Most OA publishers use rigorous peer-review processes to ensure content quality and integrity. The final product and scholarly credibility of authors' research are improved by a critical and open review process. Post-publication peer review is possible on some OA platforms, allowing academics to provide ongoing feedback. The author's work is updated with the latest academic insights and innovations through this ongoing review process. Transparency and openness of OA peer review boost author and work credibility in academia. OA books also include open data sets, research methodologies, and supplementary materials for other researchers. Open data sharing promotes reproducibility and transparency, which are essential to academic research integrity. Authors who publish in OA formats demonstrate a commitment to openness, integrity, and collaboration, which boosts their professional reputation.

Table 1 Impact of open access on academic book publishing

Industrial and non-academic collaboration

Authors can collaborate with industry partners, policymakers, and non-academic audiences through OA publishing. OA books are accessible to more stakeholders, including private sector and government organizations that can apply research to real-world problems. Knowledge transfer between academia and industry can lead to policy change, product development, and social innovation. Authors in technology, healthcare, and environmental science can influence new technologies and public policies. These collaborations allow authors to receive funding or commissions for their research in ways that subscription-based publishing cannot. Table 1 shows the impact of open access on academic book publishing.

2.4 Challenges for authors in open access book publishing

Table. 2.2 shows the opportunities and challenges for authors and publishers.

Academic and research communities now prioritize open access (OA) publishing. It allows researchers and authors to share their work for free worldwide, increasing dissemination and citation potential. Despite its many benefits, open access book publishing presents several significant challenges for authors. Strategic planning is needed to address these financial, intellectual property, ethical, and practical issues.

1. Financial viability and funding

Author financial burden is a major issue in open access book publishing. Open access publishing typically involves the author or author's institution paying for publishing rather than the publisher selling copies. This financial model is called the Article Processing Charge (APC) model in journals but applies to books as Book Processing Charges. Peer review, editing, typesetting, and distribution can be costly for open access book authors. This can cost a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the publisher and book. These costs can be prohibitive for many authors, especially those in developing countries or without institutional funding. Research grants are competitive and may not cover the cost of publishing an open access book. Many authors must decide whether to publish open access at high personal or institutional cost or adopt traditional publishing models that are cheaper. Recent trends in OA publishing show funding agencies and institutions supporting open access through dedicated funds, such as Horizon Europe. However, funding levels vary by region and discipline, and securing funding can add to authors' administrative burden.

1. IP Issues

Authors considering open access book publishing must consider IP. Traditional publishing models allow authors to retain some control over their work, but open access often requires authors to give up intellectual property rights for wider dissemination. Many OA publishing agreements require authors to sign over copyright or grant a license to make their work publicly accessible. Creative Commons licenses allow authors to retain some rights while making their work freely available, but this can be complicated. It can be difficult to choose the right license, balance openness with commercial interests, and comply with institutional and funding agency requirements. Authors may also have to decide whether to allow commercial use or restrict derivative works and adaptations. OA can boost a book's visibility and impact, but it can also lead to plagiarism. Intellectual work originality and integrity are at risk. Publishers are offering digital tools and services to combat plagiarism, but authors must protect their work.

1. Poor Quality and Reputation of Open Access Publishers

The lack of reputable, high-quality open access book publishers hinders authors. Academic book publishers with good reputations for quality and peer review give authors confidence that their work will be properly curated and distributed. Many OA publishers, especially newer ones, have yet to gain the same level of trust, raising questions about their review processes, editorial standards, and quality. Predatory publishers have exploited the open access model by charging high fees for fast, easy publication without peer review or quality control. This has increased "vanity publishing" in OA, where authors are misled into paying for publication without receiving the academic rigor they expect from reputable publishers. Predatory publishers profit from OA, undermining its credibility and worrying academics. Authors may struggle to find an OA publisher with quality assurance, peer review, editorial integrity, and professional distribution. They must also ensure that the publisher can reach a global audience and that the platform is well-known in their field. Authors must navigate these uncertainties alone due to the lack of well-known OA book publishers.

1. Impact on Academic Careers and Recognition

Many academics publish books to advance their careers, gain recognition, and meet tenure and promotion requirements. Open access publishing's academic value and prestige, especially in book publishing, are still questioned in some fields. In many fields, books published by established academic presses are more prestigious than articles in open access journals or books published by lesser-known OA outlets. Therefore, authors may hesitate to publish open access if their work is not prestigious or influential in their field. In the humanities and social sciences, academic book publishing is crucial to career advancement, making this challenge particularly difficult.Open access book publishing is still new, so many institutions and funding bodies have not fully integrated it into their academic career evaluation criteria. If their open access book is not considered academically valuable, authors may worry that it will hurt their career.

1. Preservation and Archiving

Another major challenge is preserving and making open access books available. Digital open access books can be removed, lost, or inaccessible due to platform changes, publisher business models, or technological obsolescence. Digital preservation systems are needed to archive and preserve OA books for readers and researchers. OA publishers often lack the infrastructure and resources to archive and preserve books. The Internet Archive, DOAB, and OAPEN are providing archiving solutions, but their sustainability is uncertain.

In the age of rapidly changing digital technologies, authors must archive and make their work available to future generations. Lack of clear and consistent metadata can also make it hard for authors and researchers to find OA books later, reducing their academic impact.

1. Social and ethical implications

Finally, authors must consider open access's ethical and social impacts. OA is touted for democratizing knowledge, but it can also worsen inequality. Authors from marginalized groups or underfunded institutions may struggle to pay OA publishers' publication fees, limiting their participation in the ecosystem. In this paradox, the model meant to democratize access may perpetuate inequality. OA may also shift publishing power from academic publishers to for-profit organizations. This shift raises questions about whether OA benefits authors and researchers long-term or just shifts publishers' financial burden to individuals. While OA promotes open access to scholarly knowledge, it also raises concerns about research commercialization. Authors may worry about how platforms monetize their work and how OA publishers and commercial entities may have conflicts of interest.

Table. 2.2 Opportunities and challenges for authors and publishers

2.5 Challenges for publishers in the open access era

Open access (OA) publishing has transformed academic publishing, giving researchers, students, and the public unprecedented access to scholarly works. Despite its benefits, open access presents many challenges for traditional academic publishers. These challenges stem from financial models, sustainability, intellectual property issues, and publishers' changing role in knowledge dissemination.

1. Financial Sustainability, Economic Models

The economic model shift in open access is a major challenge for publishers. Traditional publishing models relied on library, institution, and individual subscription fees for scholarly articles. These subscription-based models generated significant revenue for publishers, funding editorial and production. Open access publishing shifts costs from readers to authors or their institutions, usually through article processing charges. Established publishers and new OA platforms are worried about financial sustainability during this transition. Traditional publishers must transition from subscription to open access without losing revenue. As more journals become OA, subscription-dependent publishers may lose revenue. This is especially problematic for large publishers with subscription-based journals that may not switch to OA soon. However, OA models that use APCs must set a price that is affordable for authors and sustainable for the publishing process. APCs can be too expensive for many researchers, especially those in developing countries or fields with limited funding. More journals adopting OA can strain institutions' and funding bodies' budgets. This has raised concerns about access equity, as larger institutions can afford APCs while smaller institutions and researchers struggle to pay publication fees. Publishers, especially hybrid journals, must balance revenue generation and accessibility to maintain financial stability without compromising academic work.

1. Copyright and IP Issues

Publishers have always worried about IP and copyright, but open access has complicated these issues. The author usually licenses their copyright to the publisher for OA publishing. This conflicts with the growing demand for authors to retain control and freely share their works. Copyright ownership is a major issue in OA publishing. Authors in the humanities and social sciences are increasingly seeking to retain copyright and publish under open licenses like Creative Commons, which allow unrestricted distribution. These complex licensing agreements require publishers to balance intellectual property control with the growing demand for open knowledge. Open licenses promote access but can make it harder for publishers to make money from scholarly publications, especially when it comes to redistribution and derivative works. OA publishing also challenges copyright-based publishing models that control content distribution and commercialization. Publishers may struggle to monetize print and digital materials in OA, where content is often free. This raises questions about how publishers will adapt their business models to stay competitive while protecting authors and open access.

1. Quality Control and Peer Review

In open access, peer review, a cornerstone of academic publishing, faces challenges. OA platforms, especially rapid publication models, have been criticized for compromising peer review to speed up research dissemination. To make money, many OA publishers, especially those that use APCs, must publish articles quickly. This raises questions about whether OA publishing has as strong quality control as subscription-based publishing. The open access peer review system is also under scrutiny. Volunteer peer reviewers often work unpaid for OA journals. This has increased the workload for researchers who must review multiple articles while conducting their own research. The increased volume of manuscripts submitted to OA journals, especially in high-demand fields like medicine and technology, strains peer reviewers. Without proper reviewer compensation or incentives, peer review quality could suffer, compromising scholarly publishing. There is also growing concern about predatory journals exploiting the OA model. Authors pay high APCs for these journals without editorial oversight or peer review. Publishers dedicated to quality and integrity face a growing threat from predatory OA journals. Publishers must distinguish reputable OA journals from questionable ones to maintain their reputation.

1. Technology and Infrastructure Issues

Rapid OA publishing growth has stressed technology infrastructure. Publishers need advanced technologies to handle the growing number of submissions and maintain peer review and publication integrity. This includes creating submission, peer review, and copyright/licence compliance systems. Publishers must also adopt open standards and technologies for OA platform and repository interoperability. As OA journals and preprint servers proliferate, researchers find it harder to navigate the vast array of resources. Publishers must ensure platform compatibility and data management, metadata standards, and accessibility best practices. OA publishing infrastructure is expensive and requires ongoing investment. Since hackers and data breaches target large-scale digital research platforms, publishers must secure and protect them. The technical and financial challenges of maintaining a high-quality digital infrastructure can strain publishers, especially smaller and independent ones.

1. Publishers' changing roles and perceptions

The open access movement is also changing publishers' roles in academia. Publishers traditionally controlled knowledge through editorial oversight, peer review, and distribution. In the open access era, publishers' roles are being questioned. Publishing services like editorial input and curatorial efforts are being scrutinized and undervalued as more researchers and institutions demand open access. With institutional repositories and preprint servers allowing researchers to share their work directly with the public, publishers must now deal with the perception that open access can be achieved without them. Publishers must adapt to changing author, reader, and funding body demands and offer new services like data curation, advanced analytics, and post-publication engagement to demonstrate their value.

1. Global Inequality and Access

Open access publishing makes research freely available to anyone with an internet connection, addressing global knowledge inequalities. The shift to OA raises equity and accessibility concerns. OA is meant to democratize access to scholarly literature, but APC costs and the need for specialized infrastructure to manage and distribute OA content can disproportionately affect low-income researchers. Publishers must ensure that OA publishing is equitable and does not increase the income gap between high- and low-income researchers. In response to equity concerns, some publishers have implemented "green" OA models that allow authors to self-archive in institutional repositories or on personal websites. This model may cause visibility disparities because repositories may not receive as much attention or citation as OA journals. These disparities must be addressed by publishers to ensure that all researchers, regardless of institutional affiliation or funding source, have equal opportunities to publish.

1. Pressure to Reduce Costs and Maintain Quality

As open access publishing models, especially those that use article processing charges (APCs), spread, publishers must balance editorial and production standards with cost reduction. Quality control is strained by rapid publication, especially in high-impact fields like medicine and technology. OA publishers must protect their peer review systems and editorial processes from APC-based financial pressures. Yet, cutting costs without sacrificing quality is tricky. Publishers must streamline editorial workflow, improve peer review, and use technology to boost productivity. However, any publication quality issue can damage their academic reputation, so they must invest in publication credibility and rigor. The challenge is to sustain publishing without compromising author and reader value.

1. Overcoming Traditional Stakeholder Resistance

Authors, researchers, universities, and funders still oppose open access, despite its growing popularity. Due to their prestige and impact, many scholars, especially those in low-funded fields, prefer subscription-based models. Authors often worry about the quality of open access journals, especially early adopters or “predatory.” OA publications are less appealing to some scholars because many career advancement systems still favor high-impact subscription-based journals. Libraries and institutions may be hesitant to fully adopt open access, especially if they are heavily invested in traditional subscription models. Universities may prefer subscription models because they are more predictable and easier to budget for, and APCs or the shifting financial burden may make them cling to traditional models. This resistance from key stakeholders can slow open access adoption and put more pressure on publishers to show the value of OA to authors and the academic community.

1. Navigating Open Access Licensing Complexities

Open access publishing licensing and copyright issues are complicated, especially when publishers and authors must navigate multiple licensing models. Open access publications usually use Creative Commons (CC) licenses, which vary in openness and reuse restrictions (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-NC, CC BY-SA). This license management and enforcement is a major operational challenge for publishers. Publishers must set clear guidelines for authors, license all content, and monitor usage to ensure license compliance. This is especially difficult for global publishers who must navigate different copyright and intellectual property laws. It can also take time and effort to license and attribute contributors (authors, reviewers, editors) and third-party content (images, datasets). Managing IP for published content can be difficult when authors retain rights or choose open licenses for redistribution, modification, and commercial reuse. To handle legal complexities without hindering authors or readers, publishers must create comprehensive systems.

1. Open Access Journals That Prey on Reputations

As open access publishing grows, predatory journals do too. These journals exploit the open access model by charging high APCs without providing editorial or peer review services. Predatory journals publish low-quality research without oversight and are not indexed in PubMed or Web of Science. Publishers seeking open access credibility face a growing threat from predatory journals. Predatory publishers undermine open access trust, so legitimate publishers must work harder to distinguish themselves. This is especially worrisome for researchers who don't know which journals are reliable. Reputable OA journal publishers must constantly monitor and protect their journal's integrity and prevent predatory entities from exploiting their publishing platform. Low-quality or questionable publications can damage a publisher's academic reputation and financial and operational prospects.

1. Effect on Traditional Journal Models and Revenue Diversification

Traditional publishers must rethink their business models in open access. Publishers must diversify their revenue streams to remain profitable after abandoning subscriptions. Larger publishers may add databases, scholarly platforms, and research tools to their academic journal offerings. Smaller publishers may struggle more with the OA transition and will need to find new revenue streams to stay competitive. Value-added services like data analytics, professional development, and advanced editorial services can diversify revenue. Authors may receive premium visibility, peer review cycles, and post-publication support from publishers. Partnering with institutions, offering open access repository services, or consulting on research data management may also generate income. Diversifying revenue to sustain the publishing ecosystem is difficult. Publishers must attract high-quality submissions and meet the growing demand for free scholarly materials. Many traditional publishers' business models are under pressure, and failing to adapt could cost them market share to OA platforms with more flexible, cost-effective models.

1. Changing Author and Research Institution Expectations

Authors and research institutions have changed expectations with open access publishing. Due to their broad reach, authors are prioritizing OA journals, and some funding bodies are encouraging or requiring OA publishing. This puts pressure on publishers to increase the number of OA journals and make it easy for authors to submit manuscripts and pay APCs. Meeting these demands isn't always easy. Authors expect transparent fees, review timelines, and licensing options and fast, efficient publishing. To accommodate diverse researchers, including those from low-resource institutions, publishers must create user-friendly submission systems and flexible payment models. Not meeting these expectations can lead authors to use other platforms or repositories, reducing a publisher's influence and visibility. To make research public, research institutions are increasingly requiring open access journals or institutional repositories. These institutions often set up funds to support APC payments, but this puts pressure on publishers to work with universities and institutions to facilitate funding, reduce publication barriers, and keep their journals accessible worldwide. Publishers in the competitive open access market may lose submissions and market share if they fail to meet institutional expectations.

Fig. 2.1 impact of open access on academic book publishing

1. Prolonged Archiving and Preservation

Long-term archiving and preservation of open access content is another publisher challenge. Digital content faces technological obsolescence, data loss, and security risks, unlike print journals. The open access model, where vast amounts of scholarly content is freely available online, requires long-term accessibility. Publishers must work with digital preservation organizations like CLOCKSS Archive or Portico to preserve their content. Archiving infrastructure, metadata standards, and digital preservation support must be heavily invested in. Publishers must balance open access's financial and operational pressures with their long-term commitments to content integrity and accessibility. Keeping digital content retrievable and usable across technologies, platforms, and repositories becomes more complicated. Publishers must include long-term archiving costs in their sustainability models, and failing to future-proof their content could cause major issues. Fig. 2.1 shows the impact of open access on academic book publishing.

2.6 Open access and scholarly book impact: Citation analysis

The open access (OA) movement has transformed academic publishing, particularly scholarly books. Traditional paywalls have restricted access to scholarly books to those with institutional access or the means to buy individual copies. Open access models have increased the emphasis on making academic works, including books, freely available to a global audience. This shift affects knowledge accessibility and scholarly work impact and visibility, which can be measured by citation analysis. Citation analysis is essential for assessing academic output, and open access has raised questions about its effects on citation patterns and scholarly influence. Open access makes scholarly works, including books, freely available online to anyone with an internet connection. In the early 2000s, the Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Berlin Declaration on Open Access (2003), and institutional repositories and platforms like arXiv for research papers boosted the movement. Open access books have gained popularity in the last decade, despite the initial focus on journal articles. After the Open Access Books Network (OABN) was founded in 2012, many publishers, especially academic ones, adopted OA publishing models.

Open access is driven by the desire to democratize knowledge, reduce subscription-based publishing costs, and encourage research collaboration and innovation. Open access removes financial barriers for authors, increasing visibility and impact. By disseminating publicly funded works to everyone, open access can boost research ROI for institutions and funding agencies. Successful OA models in journals have sparked discussions about their potential in books. Citation analysis is a popular way to evaluate academic work. It involves measuring how often researchers cite a journal article or book. Citation analysis assumes that more citations mean more influence and contribution to the field. Works with many citations are considered more influential. A scholar's impact is measured by raw citation counts, the h-index, journal impact factors, and altmetrics, which track online engagement with academic work. Citation analysis is still the best way to assess academic influence in science, technology, and social sciences. Complexity increases with book citation analysis. In disciplines where journal articles dominate dissemination, books get fewer citations than journal articles. Books, especially scholarly monographs or edited volumes can have a big impact by providing in-depth analysis and laying the groundwork for research fields.

Open access may affect citation patterns, but this is still debated and researched. Open access journal articles are cited more than paywalled ones, according to numerous studies. Open access may affect scholarly book citation rates, but this is unclear. Recent research suggests that open-access books receive more citations than closed-access ones. Open access books were cited 30% more than closed-access ones, according to the study. This suggests that OA works with greater visibility and accessibility are more likely to be cited. Open access books have a higher citation impact, according to data from SpringerOpen, Cambridge University Press's Open Engage, and the Open Book Publishers. OBP's open access books are available on JSTOR, Google Books, and OAPEN, and evidence suggests they receive more citations than comparable closed-access books. Due to its global reach, authors and researchers from low-resource settings, who may not have institutional access to expensive subscriptions, are more likely to read, cite, and engage with open access content.

Open access models improve discovery and visibility, which boosts citation impact. Traditional publishing may restrict books to physical copies or digital formats behind paywalls, making them difficult for researchers to access without subscriptions. However, Google Scholar, DOAB, and institutional repositories index open access books, making them more visible and discoverable. Visibility increases work engagement and citation rates. Open access books allow researchers worldwide to access them, even if they lack institutional support or cannot afford expensive books. Open access books can be cited immediately after publication, unlike print books, which can take months or years to circulate. Early-career researchers, who lack senior scholars' networks, need this increased discoverability. Open access platforms help under-cited scholars gain visibility.

The immediate impact of open access on citation rates is promising, but its long-term sustainability is uncertain. Critics of open access publishing say the citation boost may be short-lived and books may eventually face diminishing citation returns like traditional works. Books, unlike articles, have a longer lifespan, so their impact may not be immediately apparent in citation counts. Books are expensive to produce, so open access publishing may not be financially sustainable. Many open access publishers receive production subsidies from universities, libraries, or government grants. Open access books may continue to be published at scale as funding models evolve, or publishers may switch to closed-access models to stay profitable. The evidence suggests that open access books will have a long-term impact on citation rates and scholarly engagement. If Google Scholar and DOAB continue to index and make OA books accessible to researchers worldwide, citation patterns may increase over time. The European Commission's Horizon 2020 initiative, which emphasizes open access in funding policies, may spur more investment in open access books and ensure their availability.

Open access publishing models increase citation impact and visibility, but there are ethical issues. The OA model could democratize knowledge by making research available to all, but resource distribution and access are concerns. Open access publishing can be costly for authors, especially early-career scholars and those from underfunded institutions. In the "author-pays" model, publishers charge authors a lot to make their books open access. This can restrict lower-resource researchers' access to open-access infrastructure. Universities, governments, and institutions working together to improve open access may solve these inequalities. The push for open access is part of a larger movement toward equitable and sustainable scholarly publishing that reduces knowledge dissemination barriers.

 2.7 Technological innovations and future trends in open access book publishing

The landscape of academic publishing has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven largely by technological advancements that have reshaped the way research and scholarly content are disseminated. Among the most notable changes in academic publishing is the rise of open access (OA) publishing, which has drastically altered the traditional business model of scholarly publishing. The open access movement, which advocates for free and unrestricted access to scholarly content, has gained substantial traction in the last decade, and its impact on book publishing is becoming increasingly pronounced. Open access publishing has become a dominant force in the scholarly publishing world, initially gaining prominence through open access journals. However, the shift toward OA in the book publishing domain has been slower but is now gaining significant momentum. Open access books, which are available without subscription fees or paywalls, enable researchers, students, and academics worldwide to access valuable scholarly content freely. These books are often hosted on OA platforms or repositories, such as the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB), Open Book Publishers, and Springer’s Open Access books initiative.

The primary motivation behind the push for open access in book publishing is the democratization of knowledge. By removing paywalls and subscription-based access models, OA publishing facilitates greater equity in academic research, enabling scholars from underfunded institutions or low-resource settings to access the latest research and contribute to the global body of knowledge. Furthermore, OA book publishing aligns with the broader global movement towards open science, promoting transparency, reproducibility, and knowledge sharing. Several technological innovations are shaping the trajectory of open access book publishing. One of the most significant innovations is the development of advanced digital platforms for distributing and accessing OA books. In the past, the dissemination of academic books was limited to physical copies or subscription-based digital formats. Today, a range of digital platforms has emerged that offer seamless access to open access books. These platforms utilize cloud-based technologies, metadata standards, and content management systems to deliver books efficiently to readers worldwide.

Content management systems (CMS) such as OJS (Open Journal Systems) and platforms like OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) have made it easier for publishers to upload, manage, and distribute OA books. These platforms also facilitate the peer-review process, provide digital object identifiers (DOIs), and ensure that books are indexed in global repositories and search engines, making them discoverable and accessible to a wide audience. Another important technological innovation in open access book publishing is the increasing use of e-book formats and interactive media. With the rise of e-readers, tablets, and mobile devices, scholars and readers are no longer confined to traditional printed books. OA books are increasingly being published in multiple formats, including EPUB, PDF, and HTML, to cater to the diverse needs of readers. Furthermore, the use of multimedia elements, such as videos, interactive charts, and datasets, is enhancing the reader experience and providing new opportunities for engagement with scholarly content.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is also making inroads into open access book publishing. AI-powered tools are being employed to automate various aspects of the publishing process, from content creation and proofreading to metadata tagging and indexing. These technologies help publishers streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and ensure consistency across vast amounts of scholarly content. For example, AI is being used for content recommendation systems, which can suggest relevant open access books to readers based on their interests and past behaviors, increasing discoverability and engagement. One of the most promising emerging technologies for open access book publishing is blockchain. Blockchain’s decentralized nature and ability to offer secure, transparent transactions have caught the attention of OA publishers. Blockchain has the potential to reshape the way authors, publishers, and readers interact with academic content by offering new solutions to issues such as intellectual property rights, copyright management, and transparent royalty distribution.

One of the significant challenges in OA publishing has been the fair distribution of revenues, as most OA models do not rely on subscription-based income. Blockchain could address this challenge by providing a transparent and traceable system for royalty payments. Authors could be compensated based on the number of downloads or views their books receive, with payments distributed in real time through smart contracts, reducing the administrative burden on publishers and ensuring fair compensation. Moreover, blockchain technology can be used to create decentralized repositories for OA books. By removing the centralization of content distribution, blockchain could enhance the security and integrity of academic content, ensuring that works are not tampered with or lost over time. This could also contribute to the long-term preservation of open access research, which is a critical concern in the OA community.

The discoverability of open access books is another area where technology is making significant strides. Despite the growing availability of OA books, many remain underutilized simply because they are not easily discoverable by readers. AI-powered search engines, recommender systems, and content curation tools are becoming increasingly effective in solving this problem. AI algorithms are now being used to analyze vast amounts of scholarly data and predict the relevance of specific books to particular audiences, making it easier for readers to find research that aligns with their interests. AI is also being leveraged to improve the metadata tagging process. Metadata, which includes keywords, abstracts, and indexing information, is crucial for search engine optimization (SEO) and ensuring that books are accessible through academic databases, libraries, and search engines. AI-driven tools can automatically generate and refine metadata, improving the visibility of open access books in digital repositories and academic search engines such as Google Scholar and Scopus. As open access book publishing continues to evolve, several key trends are expected to shape its future.

1. Increased Institutional Support: As the open access movement gains momentum, universities, research institutions, and funding agencies are increasingly supporting OA publishing initiatives. Funding models for OA books, such as institutional subsidies, grants, or collaborative partnerships, are likely to become more prevalent. This support could help offset the costs associated with the production and distribution of OA books, enabling more authors to publish their work openly.
2. Enhanced Integration with Research Outputs: Future open access books will be more tightly integrated with other types of research outputs, such as data sets, conference proceedings, and journal articles. As the scientific community embraces the open science movement, the boundaries between various forms of scholarly communication are becoming more fluid. This integration will allow researchers to present their findings in a more comprehensive and interconnected manner, improving the overall impact of their work.
3. Hybrid Open Access Models: While fully open access publishing models are gaining traction, hybrid models are expected to continue playing a significant role in the academic publishing ecosystem. In hybrid OA models, publishers offer both subscription-based and open access options for books, allowing authors to choose how they wish to publish their work. These hybrid models can help ease the transition to fully open access publishing, offering authors more flexibility while ensuring that publishers can still generate revenue from subscription fees.
4. Advances in Data-Driven Publishing: The future of open access book publishing will be increasingly shaped by data-driven approaches. Publishers and authors will have access to vast amounts of data on how their books are being used and interacted with, which can inform future publishing decisions. Data analytics tools will allow publishers to track download rates, citation patterns, and reader engagement, helping them understand what works and what doesn’t in terms of content delivery and marketing.
5. Collaborative Publishing Models: Collaboration among authors, institutions, and publishers will likely become more common in the future. Open access book publishing is already seeing the rise of collaborative models, where multiple authors and institutions work together to create and share content. These models, facilitated by digital platforms and technologies, allow for more diverse perspectives and a broader range of content to be shared openly.

 2.8 Future trends in open access and academic book publishing

Open access (OA) and digital technologies are changing academic publishing. Academic publishing is moving away from subscriptions and paywalls and toward more inclusive and accessible systems. This transformation is especially evident in book publishing, where Open Access is becoming essential to the scholarly communication ecosystem. Open access is an alternative to traditional publishing, promoting global collaboration, knowledge democratization, and academic career advancement. Open access publishing will be a major trend in academic publishing. Open access publishing is expanding beyond journal articles into book publishing. Open access books were once niche, but DOAB, Springer's Open Access Book Program, and Routledge's Open Access initiatives are making them mainstream. These initiatives are changing research book production, dissemination, and global access. Open access books, often under Creative Commons licenses, are freely available online, making them more accessible, especially in regions without expensive print materials.

Open access to scholarly content is being promoted by governments, funding bodies, and universities. Horizon 2020 and the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) require open access for publicly funded research outputs. Policy changes are also affecting academic book publishing. Open access is becoming more popular worldwide as researchers in the humanities and social sciences realize that public access should be free. Academic publishers are under pressure to change their business models as institutional policies embrace open access. Open access in academic book publishing is growing due to digital technology and new publication formats. Digital publishing allows for greater flexibility and scalability in scholarly content distribution. Digital platforms are helping authors, especially interdisciplinary ones, publish books, share research data, and engage with non-academic audiences. Self-publishing on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Google Books, and institutional repositories allows authors to bypass traditional publishing.

Advanced metadata systems, automated content distribution tools, and semantic web technologies are making academic books more discoverable and accessible. ORCID and DOI systems improve citation tracking and attribution. Academic publishing will benefit from artificial intelligence and machine learning, making it faster and cheaper. AI can help with peer-review, plagiarism detection, and metadata tagging, which will boost open access book visibility. The economic model has hindered open access book publishing. Libraries, universities, and individuals pay subscription fees to access academic content in traditional academic publishing. Open access relies on article processing charges (APCs) or book processing charges (BPCs) paid by authors or their institutions. It works for journals, but academic books are more expensive and less cited than journal articles, making this model difficult.

The economic viability of open access books is uncertain. Some publishers have tried crowdfunding, institutional sponsorships, and government funding for open access books. Open Book Publishers and Knowledge Unlatched show that libraries, universities, and institutional partnerships can sustain open access book publishing. However, open access book publishing remains expensive, especially for authors without institutional support. Policymakers and publishers must explore alternative funding mechanisms to lower author costs and sustain the open access model. Hybrid publishing models are emerging as a middle ground between subscription-based and fully open access models as the open access movement grows. Hybrid publishing lets authors choose open access while still publishing with traditional publishers who control distribution and pricing. Authors may pay a fee to publish open access books, and the publisher retains some revenue from print and digital sales.

Hybrid publishing is popular because authors and publishers have flexibility. Hybrid publishing allows authors without full open access funding to reach a wide audience while benefiting from the prestige and editorial support of established academic publishers. However, hybrid publishing's long-term sustainability is questioned, particularly APC pricing, which may exclude early-career researchers and authors from low-income regions. Some have questioned whether hybrid publishing simply extends the traditional publishing model to benefit publishers over authors. Academic book publishing is also changing through collaborative publishing. Digital platforms and academic social networks encourage collaborative research and writing. More authors are sharing drafts, research data, and preprints, enabling earlier and more transparent peer review. The open access publishing movement is promoting open peer review, where reviewers are identified. This model enhances publishing transparency and accountability.

Collaboration platforms like ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Preprints.org are changing how researchers publish. These platforms let authors draft, seek feedback, and self-publish research. In the future, authors, editors, and peer reviewers may collaborate in real time to publish high-quality, open-access scholarly books. Inclusion and interdisciplinary scholarship require more diverse voices and perspectives in academic books, which this collaboration could achieve. Libraries and institutional repositories will remain vital to open access academic book publishing. As repositories archive and distribute academic works, they may become more integrated into the academic publishing ecosystem. Universities and research institutions are increasingly funding authors, hosting repositories, and providing infrastructure for open access book publishing. Open access has led to new digital library services that offer a wide range of scholarly books. Institutional repositories with self-archiving platforms for books and other scholarly works are expected to grow in importance. These repositories give academic books visibility and long-term access to research outputs.

As digital technologies advance, academic book formats will change. E-books and audiobooks are popular, and academic publishing may adopt more digital formats. Interactive e-books with videos, animations, and data visualizations may become more common. Academic books would be more engaging and accessible to more people, including those with disabilities, in these formats. The rise of AR and VR technologies may also offer new ways for readers to interact with academic content. Scholars may use VR to create immersive academic experiences like virtual conferences or interactive book chapters that allow users to explore content in new ways. These book format innovations could make academic knowledge more dynamic, interactive, and user-centered.

2.9 Low-cost and cost-effective publishing models

Technology and market changes are transforming the book publishing industry, dominated by large publishing houses. Digital tools, self-publishing platforms, and print-on-demand (POD) services have made publishing cheaper and easier. Many authors, researchers, and small publishers can now publish high-quality works at a fraction of the cost of traditional publishing. Self-publishing is a popular low-cost publishing model. Authors control writing, editing, design, production, and marketing with this model. The industry has become more accessible to authors without the resources to work with traditional publishers thanks to self-publishing. One of the biggest savings of self-publishing is eliminating agent fees and publisher margins. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Smashwords allow direct book publishing. These platforms publish e-books and print books at low production and distribution costs. With KDP, authors can publish an e-book for free and only pay for print editions, which are deducted from royalties. Authors can also choose pricing models and royalty percentages. Authors can choose a 35% or 70% royalty rate on Amazon, depending on price and distribution channels. Self-published authors can avoid high marketing and distribution costs by reaching a global audience. Self-publishing is cost-effective, but authors must market and promote, which may require an initial investment in digital advertising or professional services.

Print-on-demand (POD) services allow authors to print books as orders are placed, avoiding the high upfront costs of bulk printing and storage. IngramSpark, Lulu, and Blurb's POD services let authors print books only when they sell, reducing inventory management and unsold stock costs. Traditional publishing requires pre-printing large quantities of books, which can be costly and risky for authors and publishers, especially for niche or low-demand titles. This risk is eliminated by POD's flexible, on-demand production model. Book costs are lower than traditional print runs, and authors can set their own prices and royalties. Additionally, POD services offer distribution to online retailers, bookstores, and libraries. This model lets publishers offer a wide range of books without the logistical challenges of large inventories. Despite these benefits, POD services have drawbacks. Books cost more than bulk printing, which can hurt the profitability of cheaper books. Most POD platforms do not provide marketing support, so authors must market and promote their books themselves. However, many authors prefer POD due to its low upfront costs and flexible production.

Digital publishing, especially e-books, has changed book publishing costs. E-books save money on printing, binding, shipping, and storage. E-books allow authors to publish their work online for cheap and distribute it worldwide with a few clicks. With free or affordable writing and formatting software like Scrivener, Reedsy, and Vellum, e-books can be written and formatted cheaply. These platforms let authors create professional-looking e-books without expensive design services. E-books can also be distributed through Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Kobo, which have simple interfaces and low distribution fees. Digital publishing is cost-effective for academic and niche authors and small publishers. E-books eliminate large print runs and enable cheaper pricing. E-books have lower production and sales costs than print editions, resulting in higher profit margins. Print books must be reprinted for updates or corrections, but e-books can be updated easily. Digital publishing also benefits the environment. Since they require no paper, ink, or transportation, e-books have a much lower environmental impact than print books. E-books' eco-friendliness attracts more environmentally conscious readers and authors.

Traditional and self-publishing are merging in hybrid publishing. It lets authors work with a professional publisher while having more control and higher royalties than with traditional publishing. Hybrid publishers like Greenleaf Book Group and She Writes Press offer editing, design, and marketing for a flat fee or a share of the royalties instead of an advance and rights ownership. Authors who want traditional publisher support without the financial risks or creative control may prefer the hybrid model. Because hybrid publishers are smaller than major publishers, they can offer more personalized service and lower prices. While maintaining IP ownership, authors receive professional production quality, distribution networks, and marketing support. Hybrid publishing allows cost-effective print-on-demand publishing of both digital and print versions of a book. This lets authors reach more people without investing much. Hybrid publishing lets authors manage the entire publishing process or work with professionals on specific aspects.

Fig. 2.2 impact of open access on academic book publishing

Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe are innovative book publishing funding platforms. Crowdfunding lets authors get funding before publishing, reducing financial risk and upfront costs. Backers pledge money for early access, signed copies, or other exclusive rewards in author campaigns. Authors of memoirs, graphic novels, and academic works, where traditional publishing may not work, prefer crowdfunding. Authors can test market interest before publishing and raise funds for editing, design, and marketing through crowdfunding. Successful crowdfunding campaigns can also build a loyal readership invested in the book's success. Crowdfunding can finance a book, but it takes time to build a platform and market the campaign. Authors must use social media, email newsletters, and other outreach methods to reach backers. Crowdfunding can reduce publishing costs, but it requires a proactive and strategic approach to succeed. Authors can reduce costs with digital publishing, POD, and innovative distribution channels. Amazon and other e-commerce platforms have made global book distribution easier. With these platforms, authors can reach millions of readers worldwide without bookstores or extensive distribution networks. On-demand fulfillment services from e-commerce giants allow books to be shipped directly from warehouses to customers, reducing book distribution costs. Instagram, Twitter, and Goodreads are also important book marketing and distribution tools. Organic content and paid advertising can help authors and publishers reach targeted audiences without traditional media or expensive book tours. In addition, online book fairs and virtual events can promote books without the cost of physical attendance. Fig. 2.2 shows the impact of open access on academic book publishing.

2.10 Top publishers in the open access and low-cost academic book publishing

Academic book publishing has changed in recent years, with open access (OA) and low-cost models becoming more popular. These new models aim to democratize knowledge dissemination, increase accessibility, and assist researchers and authors. OA publishing has grown due to technological advances, the push for open research, and equitable academic practices.  Open access academic publishing makes scholarly research available without subscriptions or fees. This model expands knowledge access for the global research community, especially in regions with limited institutional access to expensive journals and books. Leading academic publishers offer both monographs and edited volumes in OA formats as demand for OA publishing rises. In addition to OA, many publishers have prioritized low-cost academic publishing to reduce author and institution costs while maintaining high academic standards.

1. Springer Nature

One of the largest academic publishers, Springer Nature publishes open access. SpringerOpen and Nature Research have promoted OA models. Springer's OA platform publishes books, journals, and conference proceedings. SpringerOpen allows authors to publish without the financial burden of traditional publishing. Springer Nature's global distribution network helps authors reach a wide audience. The Open Access Book Publishing Program, which supports high-quality academic books, shows Springer's commitment to OA. Springer Nature offers affordable publishing options in addition to OA. The publisher's transition to OA models is complemented by hybrid models, where authors can publish a chapter or book open access while the rest is behind a paywall. This allows low-funded researchers to publish OA while lowering costs.

1. Elsevier

Global scientific and medical publishing leader Elsevier has been increasing its open access publishing in recent years. With the launch of the Elsevier Open Access Program and OA initiatives across its imprints, the company has become a major academic publisher. Elsevier offers OA book publishing through ScienceDirect and its OA journals. Despite its high article processing charges (APCs) in some OA journals, Elsevier collaborates with institutions and funding bodies to offer cheaper options. The publisher supports Gold OA, where authors pay for open access, and Green OA, which lets authors self-archive in institutional repositories. Authors from low-income countries can receive discounts and fee waivers from Elsevier.

1. Wiley

Wiley is another major academic publisher that has advanced open access publishing. Through Wiley Open Access, the company offers a large catalog of open-access academic books, journals, and reference works. Wiley publishes open access articles in chemistry, engineering, and life sciences. The publisher uses flexible Gold OA and Green OA models for authors. Wiley Digital Archives offers affordable publishing and transformative partnerships with institutions, in addition to OA books. Authors from institutions that have signed these agreements receive discounts or waivers to publish OA books. Many researchers prefer Wiley because of its open access and low-cost publishing.

1. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

MDPI is a leading open access publisher in science, technology, and medicine. The open-access publisher publishes books, journals, and conference proceedings. MDPI is known for providing researchers with an efficient, low-cost publishing route that ensures broad distribution. MDPI's open access books program includes high-quality academic texts from multiple fields. Compared to traditional publishers, authors can publish books cheaply. The publisher's fast publication turnaround helps spread research faster. MDPI supports open access to academic work while maintaining high quality and peer review due to its transparent business model, which does not use subscriptions or paywalls. MDPI is a major player in OA publishing due to its wide range of peer-reviewed, open access journals and books. The company has also partnered with universities and research institutions to fund and support OA publication, further advancing affordable and accessible academic publishing.

1. Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press (CUP), a leading academic publisher, launched Cambridge Open Engage to allow authors to publish open access. CUP offers OA books through Cambridge Open Engage Books in addition to its many journals. Open access supports the publisher's global learning and research mission. CUP has helped the OA movement by emphasizing affordability and accessibility. Authors seeking open access publishing prefer it due to its low costs and high quality. Cambridge has also signed several transformative agreements with academic institutions and research funders to lower author costs, especially for developing countries and underfunded institutions.

1. SpringerOpen, Frontiers

SpringerOpen and Frontiers are other major publishers that have contributed to low-cost, open-access book publishing. High-quality publications and free academic research are hallmarks of both publishers. SpringerOpen Books publishes OA books in social sciences, life sciences, and engineering. Strong reputation and large distribution network make the publisher popular among researchers. SpringerOpen has low APCs and partnerships with research funding bodies to help authors publish. But Frontiers is a leading open access publisher that focuses on science and technology. Frontiers, known for its high-impact OA journals, now publishes open access books. Through its OA platform, Frontiers distributes its books widely and offers low-cost author options. Academic authors from many fields choose the publisher for its transparent, peer-reviewed, and accessible research.

1. Open Book Publishers

Smaller, independent academic publisher Open Book Publishers publishes only open access. OBP publishes scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences with a focus on open access. OBP, a non-profit, offers low-cost publishing to authors while maintaining high editorial and production standards. OBP sells print copies of their books and offers free online versions. This model makes content available worldwide and gives authors a fair chance to make money from printed copies. Scholars in history, philosophy, and the social sciences choose OBP for its transparent peer review, high academic standards, and accessibility.

1. Taylor & Francis

Taylor & Francis, a global publisher of academic journals and books, is embracing open access. Through Taylor & Francis Open, the publisher offers open access books and journals in social sciences, humanities, and STEM. Despite being a traditional publisher, Taylor & Francis has made open access publishing more affordable by offering flexible payment models and funding through institutional agreements and research funders. Taylor & Francis' open access division, Routledge Open, publishes humanities and social science OA books and scholarly works. Open access publishing of monographs, edited volumes, and reference works by Routledge ensures high visibility and wide distribution. Taylor & Francis allows authors to publish select chapters or articles open access while publishing the rest traditionally.

1. IntechOpen

A leading open access publisher of science, technology, and medicine academic books is IntechOpen. IntechOpen, based in Croatia, has advanced open access publishing by allowing authors to publish books in various scientific fields. IntechOpen lets authors keep copyright while giving readers worldwide free access. Researchers in engineering, chemistry, computer science, and medicine prefer the publisher's free, peer-reviewed, high-quality academic books. IntechOpen's affordable publishing and global reach allow authors' research to be shared worldwide, even in regions with limited academic resources. IntechOpen offers hybrid and fully open access publishing, giving authors flexibility.

1. Ubisoft

The new but innovative open access publisher Ubiquity Press reduces academic publishing costs and promotes open access to research. Ubiquity Press publishes books, journals, and other scholarly content in many fields, focusing on science, technology, and social sciences. Ubiquity Press's low-cost publishing model lets authors publish without high fees. The platform's transparent pricing and quality appeal to low-funded researchers. Ubiquity Press publishes free, open-access books online. This model makes academic research available worldwide without subscription barriers, promoting knowledge dissemination. Digital book publishing from the publisher allows authors to publish high-quality, peer-reviewed academic texts at low cost.

1. European Networks Open Access Publishing

The Netherlands-based non-profit OAPEN provides open access to academic books. OAPEN collaborates with university presses, research institutions, and other stakeholders to advance humanities and social sciences open access publishing. To spread OA books and monographs, the organization works with libraries and repositories. OAPEN's mission to make high-quality scholarly books freely available worldwide supports the global open access movement. The platform supports hybrid and fully open access publishing at low cost. OAPEN remains a major open access contributor due to its partnerships with top European academic publishers and research institutions. OAPEN authors gain visibility and accessibility.

1. F1000Research

Open access publisher F1000Research is known for its low author costs and unique publishing model. It is known for its "post-publication peer review," which allows research to be published quickly and peer-reviewed, ensuring transparency and efficiency in academic publishing. The platform publishes life sciences, medicine, and social sciences research articles and books. F1000Research is known for its open access model, which makes publishing easier and cheaper for researchers. The platform uses Gold OA, where authors pay to make their work freely available. Specializing in low article processing charges (APCs), F1000Research reduces publishing costs. F1000Research uses this model to democratize scholarly publishing and make academic research accessible.

1. Hindawi

Hindawi, a fast-growing open access publisher, publishes journals in science, technology, medicine, and engineering. Through partnerships with other academic organizations and research institutions, Hindawi has expanded into academic book publishing. Hindawi's open access policy makes all its content freely available, promoting global knowledge. The publisher's low APCs make open access publishing affordable for authors. Like its journals, Hindawi's books are fully open access, making authors' works widely available. Hindawi's low-cost publishing options and transparent business practices make it a major open access publisher.

Fig. 2.3 Impact of open access on academic book publishing

1. Laika Verlag

Laika Verlag, a small, independent German publisher, specializes in political science, philosophy, and sociology. Laika Verlag is known for publishing high-quality scholarly books under an open access model. The publisher supports equitable academic knowledge access through low-cost and open access publishing. Authors can publish their books in print and online with Laika Verlag. The publisher works with authors and researchers to make their works available worldwide while maintaining academic rigor and integrity.

1. Public Library of Science

One of the largest open access publishers, PLOS, has contributed to the movement, particularly in science and medicine. PLOS, best known for its journals like PLOS ONE, also publishes academic books. Scientific research books published by PLOS are open access and available to anyone with an internet connection. PLOS publishes with Gold OA and hybrid models to keep costs low. The publisher partners with universities and funding bodies to reduce APCs for low-income and underfunded authors. PLOS has influenced the OA movement by spreading knowledge globally.

The Fig. 2.3 shows the complex relationships between stakeholders, benefits, and challenges of open access (OA) models. Open access drives key stakeholders like authors, academic institutions, and research funders, who experience a cascade of interconnected outcomes that shape the academic publishing ecosystem. Open access boosts author visibility. Open access makes research accessible to scholars, policymakers, and the public by removing paywalls. This increased accessibility boosts citation rates, boosting authors' academic reputations and career prospects. This exposure helps early-career researchers establish their presence in their fields. The shift from book sales to alternative revenue models in open access reduces royalties for authors. This financial reality can be difficult, especially for authors without institutional funding or grants, warranting advocacy for sustainable publishing practices and funding mechanisms.

Open access improves academic collaboration and knowledge sharing. Institutions can support multi-author and interdisciplinary projects that break silos by making research widely available. This open information exchange accelerates discovery and innovation, helping academic communities solve complex, cross-disciplinary problems. Sharing knowledge globally boosts the institution's global standing and attracts partnerships. However, institutions must develop robust infrastructure, implement author support programs, and comply with changing publishing policies to adapt to open access mandates. Research funders are crucial to open access adoption and sustainability. By making funded research accessible to academics and policymakers, the model helps funders maximise their investments. This accessibility makes research more relevant to society, enabling evidence-based policymaking and public engagement. Funders shape open access policies and publishing models, promoting equitable knowledge dissemination. Open access can put financial strain on funders, who must allocate more money for publication fees and platform development. Prioritizing and advocating for sustainable open access funding solutions is necessary due to these constraints.

The diagram shows the systemic effects of open access, such as the visibility-citation cycle. Research gains traction in academic and policy circles as it becomes more accessible, strengthening its influence and encouraging collaboration. However, reduced author royalties and funding issues for institutions and funders make open access transition financially difficult. These issues spur efforts to create sustainable publishing models and hybrid approaches that increase access. Academic institutions must navigate institutional strategies like supporting researchers in adapting to open access requirements while promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing. Provide compliance resources, fund publication fees, and promote open science. Institutions that successfully implement such strategies become open access leaders, boosting their reputation and impact. Open access has also shaped hybrid publishing, as shown in the diagram. These flexible models combine traditional and open access publishing to meet diverse needs. Hybrid approaches help bridge accessibility and financial viability, but they also complicate operations like managing multiple revenue streams and applying open access principles. Despite these challenges, publishing models have evolved to make research more accessible while sustaining the publishing ecosystem.

2.11 Book indexing and academic recognition

The accessibility, discoverability, and academic recognition of scholarly works depend on book indexing. It helps readers find specific topics, terms, and concepts in the book by providing a structured path. Book indexing is important for how academic books are perceived and recognized by scholars, not just for convenience. Academic recognition depends on scholarly works' visibility and impact. Scholars, researchers, and students can quickly find relevant book content with a good index. Academics use books for research, teaching, and policymaking. Thus, an index improves book usability and scholarly recognition. Comprehensively indexing academic books makes them more accessible to general readers and specialists, facilitating their integration into various research domains.

Indexing is essential for citation and reference tracking in scholarly communication. Academic papers are more likely to cite properly indexed books because researchers can quickly find relevant content. This boosts the book's and author's academic visibility, boosting the work's and author's reputation. Thus, effective indexing affects a book's impact factor, citation rate, and academic standing. The relationship between indexing and academic recognition is complex. On one hand, the index helps readers find book content. However, a well-written index is often seen as a sign of academic publishing quality and professionalism. Books with thorough, accurate, and comprehensive indexes show the author's dedication to organized, accessible content, making them authoritative.

Indexing makes a book more searchable in digital databases, library catalogs, and other scholarly repositories, boosting its academic reputation. Internet platforms like Google Scholar, JSTOR, and ResearchGate use indexing algorithms to classify books and articles. Books with detailed indexes are more likely to be found through keyword searches, expanding their audience. Increasing the likelihood that the book will be read, cited, and included in other academic works' bibliographies boosts its academic potential. Indexes are also becoming more important in SEO in the age of digital publishing. Well-indexed books are easier for Google to index, making them more discoverable online. With the rise of open-access publishing and digital platforms in academic research, an index is essential for making book content easily accessible to researchers worldwide.

In the past, indexing required manual topic compilation and categorization. Digital tools and automated indexing software have changed indexing practices. These tools generate an index from book keywords, concepts, and themes using algorithms and machine learning. These technologies have made the process more efficient, but automated indexing systems may miss academic discourse's nuance and context. Publishers and authors are increasingly using professional indexers, who use digital tools and their expertise to create accurate indexes. Professional indexers understand academic language and can create indexes that reflect the book's depth and complexity. Professional indexing makes books more accurate, complete, and user-friendly. As academic publishing moves toward open-access models, digital indexes that can be easily integrated with online databases and platforms are in demand. Dedicated software has been developed to create and store indexes in digital archive and repository formats. Interactive and clickable indexes in eBooks and online publications make academic books more accessible. Table 2.3 shows the book indexing and academic recognition.

In scholarly discourse, book indexes serve more than navigation. A well-organized index shows the book's intellectual rigor and scholarship. It helps researchers quickly identify and engage with the book's key concepts and arguments to determine its relevance to their research. This is crucial in fields with constantly evolving concepts, theories, and terminologies. The index also influences academic book interpretation by different audiences. In edited volumes, the index unites authors' contributions. It organizes the book so readers can navigate the chapters and sections while still understanding the theme. Indexes also reference important scholarly works, studies, and figures related to the book's topic. By showing the book's intellectual lineage and connection to established research, this helps readers explore the topic and boosts its academic credibility. The index links the book to other influential works in the field, establishing its place in the academic canon.

Creating effective academic book indexes is difficult, despite its importance. Indexing interdisciplinary works is difficult. As academic fields become more interconnected, books cover many topics from multiple disciplines. Indexing such works requires a deep understanding of the various fields and the ability to capture their nuances while maintaining a coherent structure. Indexing requires accuracy and consistency, another challenge. An incomplete or inaccurate index can make a book less usable, frustrate readers, and lower its scholarly value. Professional indexers ensure index quality, but even with advanced indexing tools, human expertise is needed to create a complete and accurate index.

Indexing also faces new challenges from digital and online publishing. Digital indexes are searchable and accessible, but they must be designed to be user-friendly and compatible with multiple digital platforms. Interactive and clickable indexes, which are becoming more common in eBooks and digital publications, must be formatted carefully to work across devices and platforms. Book indexing may be shaped by AI, machine learning, and digital technology advances. As AI tools improve, they may automatically generate accurate, contextually nuanced indexes. These tools may also include semantic analysis, which considers concept-theme relationships to improve indexes. Indexing with emerging technologies like blockchain could improve academic work transparency and traceability. Blockchain could record who created the index and when, adding accountability to the indexing process. A more efficient and precise indexing system may boost book and author recognition in academia.

Table 2.3 Book indexing and academic recognition

Conclusions

The advent of open access in academic book publishing transforms knowledge creation, dissemination, and access. This paradigm challenges traditional publishing models and offers inclusivity, equity, and global reach. By eliminating financial barriers, open access has democratized knowledge by giving scholars, students, and practitioners from resource-limited environments access to critical academic content. This transition can boost authors' visibility, citation impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration, increasing their work's social impact. The path forward is difficult, requiring authors, publishers, and other stakeholders to balance sustainability and quality. One of the biggest benefits of open access is equitable access to scholarly content. Traditional publishing models often limit access to well-funded institutions and wealthier nations, hurting developing country researchers. Open access has leveled the playing field for academics and practitioners worldwide. This inclusivity supports academic publishing's mission of knowledge dissemination and innovation. Open access allows authors, especially from underrepresented fields or marginalized regions, to amplify their voices and contribute to global discourse.

Open access provides authors with unparalleled visibility. Studies show that open-access books are downloaded and cited more than paywalled ones. This improved discoverability is important in an era when interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration is valued more than ever. Open access allows early-career and emerging-field researchers to build a reputation and engage diverse audiences. Authors must consider financial sustainability because many open-access models, like Gold Open Access, require authors or their institutions to pay for publication. These costs can be prohibitive for researchers in low-income or developing countries, undermining open access's inclusivity. Open access has forced publishers to rethink their business models. Financial uncertainties from the switch from subscription-based to open-access revenue have forced publishers to innovate and explore new funding methods. In transformative agreements, institutions or consortia pay for publication, while others try freemium models that combine free digital access with print sales or enhanced e-books. However, these adaptations carry risks. Open-access models may strain smaller publishers, especially niche or regional ones, resulting in market consolidation and reduced academic publishing diversity. The ethical imperative of equitable access must be balanced with financial sustainability.

Quality control and peer review are other open access concerns. Critics say predatory publishers profiting from open-access publishing have eroded academic publishing trust. Reputable open-access publishers follow rigorous peer-review standards, but the blurring of lines between legitimate and dubious practices challenges authors and readers. Maintaining academic integrity requires stakeholder collaboration, such as the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) and the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA) setting standards. Academic book publishing ecosystems include libraries, funding bodies, and policymakers are affected by open access. Libraries, once gatekeepers of knowledge through curated collections, now support open-access initiatives. Many institutions now fund open-access publishing or institutional repositories instead of subscriptions. Governments and funding agencies mandate open access to publicly funded research. These policies recognize knowledge as a public good but increase author and publisher compliance burdens. Despite its challenges, open access in academic book publishing is promising due to technological advances and changing knowledge sharing attitudes. Open-access books are more discoverable, personalized, and user-friendly thanks to digital publishing platforms, data analytics, and AI. Open access adoption may also increase as authors and institutions become more aware of its social impact. Authors, publishers, libraries, funders, and policymakers must collaborate to create sustainable and equitable open-access ecosystems.

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