Open access: a perspective from the humanities

Peter Mandler

doi:10.1629/2048-7754.89

Abstract

This article surveys the debates over UK public policy for open access (OA) since 2012 from the perspective of scholars in the humanities. It isolates points in Research Council and REF policy that have come under criticism from the humanities community for their basis in science practice, and assesses the progress that has been made in addressing these concerns. Issues considered include ‘gold’ and ‘green’ models of OA, the role of university managers in determining where and what academics can publish, embargo periods and licensing. The author is President of the Royal Historical Society.

Highlights

Little account was taken of the humanities in these developments – and humanists for their part took little account of them
Our most important work does not appear in journals, but rather in books. (It is possible to make OA books, but it is a lot harder and more expensive, and because books feature so minimally in scientists’ publishing protocols one could say that scientists, too, came late to open access, so far as books go.) Our journals are on the whole not owned by rent-seeking multinationals, and what profits they earn very often go to support the under-funded activities
Though the Finch Report included many cautions about the uncertain applicability of established OA protocols to the humanities, none of these cautions was regarded in the resulting policy put forward by the Research Councils in early 2013

Summary

Introduction

Little account was taken of the humanities in these developments – and humanists for their part took little account of them. A transition period of indeterminate length was allowed for, the goal announced was to move all Research Council-funded research to ‘gold’ open access.

Results

Conclusion