Publishing Open Access Books: Understanding Your Options for OA Chapters

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Authors and researchers in a professional setting discussing open access publishing options, including Gold and Green OA models

Open access (OA) publishing has revolutionized the way academic and scholarly works are disseminated. At Taylor & Francis, we offer authors flexibility in choosing how and when to publish their work as open access. Our goal is to provide options that meet the diverse needs of authors, funders, and institutions. Here, we explore two primary models for making individual book chapters available as open access: the 'Gold' OA model and the 'Green' OA model.

1. Gold Open Access: Immediate Availability for All

Gold Open Access ensures that the final published version of a book chapter is immediately and freely available online for anyone to read. This model is particularly advantageous for authors seeking maximum visibility and accessibility for their work.

Key Features of Gold Open Access:

Immediate Availability: The final version of the chapter is available online as soon as it is published.
Creative Commons Licenses: Chapters are published under a Creative Commons license, with CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs) as the default. This allows others to download and share the work with proper attribution, without altering it or using it commercially.
Flexible Licensing: Taylor & Francis are adaptable to funder and author needs, allowing the choice of preferred Creative Commons licenses.
Intellectual Copyright Retention: Authors retain the intellectual copyright of their work.

Eligibility and Costs:

Eligible Books: All research-level books, including single- or co-authored books and edited collections, are eligible.
Cost: The publishing charge for immediate open access is from £1,250 / €1,500 / $1,688 (USD) per chapter, plus tax. Many institutions and funders cover this charge if the chapter is published under a Creative Commons license.

Publishing Process:

Availability: The published chapter is made available on the Routledge.com website.
Arrangement: Authors can arrange for open access with the relevant Taylor & Francis editor either before or after publication.

2. Green Open Access: Self-Archiving for Accessibility

Green Open Access allows authors to self-archive a version of their chapter, making it accessible after an embargo period. This model offers a cost-effective way to share research widely while adhering to specific publishing protocols.

Key Features of Green Open Access:

Accepted Manuscript (AM): Authors can archive the post-contract but pre-production version of their chapter. This version is not copyedited, typeset, or proofread.
Archiving Options: Authors may upload the AM chapter to a closed (not publicly accessible) institutional repository immediately after the book's publication. After an embargo period, it can be posted to open repositories, academic social media sites, or personal websites.

Embargo Periods:

Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS): 18 months
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): 12 months

Licensing and Attribution:

Creative Commons Recommendation: Authors are encouraged to apply a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license to the AM version.
Attribution Statement: When sharing the AM chapter, use the following statement: "It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way."

Eligibility and Process:

Eligible Books: All Taylor & Francis books are eligible. Specific rules apply based on the type of book (single-authored, multi-authored, or edited collections).
Link to Published Version: To encourage citation, authors should include a link from their posted AM to the published book on the Taylor & Francis website.

Conclusion

Open access publishing offers authors a powerful way to increase the reach and impact of their work. Whether choosing the immediate visibility of Gold Open Access or the flexible, cost-effective Green Open Access model, Taylor & Francis provides robust options to meet your publishing needs. By understanding these options, authors can make informed decisions that align with their goals and the requirements of their funders and institutions.