Advancing collective models to unlatch knowledge
Richard Gallagher explains why Annual Reviews’ acquisition of Knowledge Unlatched can contribute to a “more resilient and expansive open access ecosystem”
To me, knowledge unlatched is an evocative phrase. It conjures images of information and ideas being released in a powerful surge that energises, enlightens, and empowers. It signals a deliberate choice to share rather than to withhold. In a world where access to reliable knowledge is often restricted, and increasingly suppressed or distorted, unlatching it is both a moral commitment and a practical step toward a more equitable future.
Annual Reviews (AR) didn’t acquire Knowledge Unlatched (KU) because of its name, but the name resonates deeply.
Shared mission, different roots
The two entities differ in many ways. AR publishes in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM) fields and social sciences disciplines; KU focuses on the humanities and social sciences (HSS). AR generates and publishes content; KU aggregates and facilitates access to it. The two initiatives were conceived 80 years and 9,000km apart. Yet the fit is undeniable. We are united by a commitment to sharing the fruits of research as widely as possible through collective support.
Founded in 2012, KU pioneered a crowdfunding model that enables libraries around the world to pool resources and make academic books and journals freely available. This approach, rooted in shared benefit and collective action, resonated strongly with us when we later developed the Subscribe to Open (S2O) model for our journals.
KU has operated under commercial ownership in recent years, but its mission remained clear. As it became evident that a non-profit home would better serve its purpose, we saw both an opportunity and a responsibility to provide one.
Complementary capabilities
Since 2013, KU has converted more than 5,000 books and 60 journal volumes to open access, generating more than 23.5 million engagements from readers worldwide. With KU’s future in question, we recognised the risk to a valuable part of the open access ecosystem, and the opportunity it presented. KU brings capabilities and experience that complement, rather than duplicate, the work of AR. It feels like a natural extension of our broader efforts to increase the reach and impact of high-quality research.
Our journals are the heart of what we do. They deliver rigorous, curated reviews across dozens of disciplines, and we are always looking for new ways to broaden their reach and impact. Knowable Magazine is a standout example. Launched in 2017, it’s a free-to-read online science magazine that translates scholarly research into accessible, engaging stories for a broad audience.
We’ve also expanded AR’s reach through other mission-aligned initiatives beyond content generation. The acquisition of the Charleston Conference, the development of the Charleston Asia Conference, and the launch of Katina Magazine reflect our growing commitment to serving the academic library community. So, when the opportunity to take on Knowledge Unlatched arose, we were well positioned to consider how the two could align. As an aside, Wiley’s openness to the transfer and the dedication of many of their staff members throughout the process is both notable and deeply appreciated.
Strengthening KU
Our immediate goal is to set KU on a stable and supportive path that preserves its core strengths, including the KU Select book program, strong library partnerships, and the team’s unique expertise. We are currently preparing the 2026 Select OA Book Collections, KU’s flagship offering.
We also see clear potential to expand KU’s services, particularly in supporting smaller publishers who wish to adopt Subscribe to Open for journals but lack the in-house capacity to manage outreach and funding campaigns.
Looking ahead, KU will evolve to meet emerging needs across the open access ecosystem. One promising area lies in supporting the growing number of Diamond OA initiatives around the world. KU’s infrastructure and global network could play a vital role in helping these efforts thrive.
A bazaar for open content
Letting my imagination roam a little, I can picture KU’s future as a kind of “Grand Bazaar”. Picture a lively, ever-evolving space filled with virtual stalls offering not only open books and journals, but also video series, educational resources, discussion forums, publishing services, infrastructure tools, and more. A place where ideas mingle and the energy of open knowledge is on full display.
As researchers and institutions explore new products and news ways of sharing them, KU could become a vibrant hub for the creative richness of emerging formats, ideas, and collaborations. Supporters – including libraries, university consortia, funders, government agencies, philanthropists, and individual donors – could explore the offerings and choose to back the projects that matter most to them. An additional full-service offering could involve the KU sales team working directly with creators to help secure sustainable funding.
It’s ambitious, yes, but could be deeply impactful if done well.
Invitation to collaborate
This transformation won’t happen overnight. We’ll begin by integrating systems, exploring efficiencies, and aligning KU’s governance and financial structure with our nonprofit framework. Just as importantly, we’ll begin listening.
We invite libraries, publishers, authors, funders, and other interested parties to reach out, to me or to my colleagues. Let’s think boldly, and build collaboratively.
This is more than a strategic move for Annual Reviews. It’s a contribution to a broader effort in which mission-driven organisations work together to build a more inclusive and durable knowledge commons.
Richard Gallagher is President and Editor-in-Chief at Annual Reviews
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