UK project launched to advance OA for long-form research
A research sector-led project has been launched to support UK research organisations in implementing open access (OA) for long-form publications.
While open access for journal articles is now well established, approaches to OA for long-form publications remain diverse. With UKRI’s OA policy for long-form publications now in place, and expectations that future Research Excellence Frameworks may include OA requirements for long-form outputs, institutions are facing challenges around policy development, funding models, rights retention, and researcher support.
The Advancing Long-form Open Access Practice Project has been established to address these issues through a coordinated, sector-wide approach. The initiative brings together ARMA, RLUK, and SCONUL, with funding from UKRI, to support a more strategic transition to OA for long-form research outputs.
The project will assess current practice in OA long-form publishing and identify key challenges. It will also develop practical guidance for library and research office staff to help academics and authors navigate OA requirements, commission legal advice on rights retention for long-form publications and translate this into accessible institutional guidance, and deliver advocacy, engagement, and training activities.
Work on the project is being undertaken in collaboration with representatives from across the research community. The initiative aims to complement existing open access activity and share learning, recognising that many organisations are already contributing innovative insights and initiatives in this rapidly developing area.
Organisations currently working on related aspects of open access are encouraged to get in touch via RLUK. Further information is available through the project’s Invitation to Tender.
For more information, contact David Prosser, Executive Director of RLUK