Pain Free with SciFree: Connecting Authors to OA Journals
Thursday May 23, 2024
From 2:15pm to 2:30pm
Document
In alignment with our commitment to support open access (OA) publishing which aims to enhance research impact and increase equitable access to research, McMaster Libraries actively engage in OA publishing agreements, both through consortial and local initiatives. Licenses with a range of publishers such as PLOS, Elsevier, Oxford, and De Gruyter have been signed, encompassing a variety of agreements, predominantly Read & Publish, as well as tailored OA licenses crafted by publishers. The Libraries’ support manifests primarily in waiving or discounting Article Processing Charges (APCs) for McMaster authors.
To promote OA agreements, McMaster Libraries strategically utilize various channels, including news releases highlighting major agreements, dedicated webpages and LibGuides presenting active licenses, and social media outreach. While these efforts have effectively disseminated high-level information, authors face challenges in deciphering nuanced license terms, such as "gold" and "hybrid." Moreover, the information available typically resides at the publisher level, making it arduous for authors to discern the specific journals covered by these licenses. Due to the overwhelming volume of inquiries, exceeding our capacity, McMaster Libraries investigated solutions to streamline our workload and optimize support for McMaster authors. In January 2024, we deployed the SciFree Journal Search Tool, a platform enabling libraries to upload OA publishing agreements and title lists, and at the same time facilitating researchers in quickly identifying journals they can publish in. During the presentation, we will use case examples to help elucidate the tool's features, describe the implementation process, present user uptake and feedback, and assess interest in a subscription via CRKN.
Speakers
Head of Collections and Technical Services
McMaster University Health Sciences Library