Peer review: Open access for monographs

Abstract

This article questions the sustainability of the current print-based subscription model for publishing books in the Humanities and Social Sciences. The lack of availability and dissemination of the scholarly monograph (in print and digital), has led to a quest for new business models based on the Open Access publishing of books. The common characteristics of these new models are discussed and a new model for the funding and publishing of Open Access books is introduced. This model, developed within the OAPEN project, is based on an authorpays scheme and on the principle that research and the dissemination of research results should not be separated, as they both are essential elements in the scholarly communication process.