Open Access

Open Access (OA) is a publishing model that allows free and unrestricted access to the full texts of peer-reviewed scientific publications, research results, and educational resources. 

The benefits of publishing in open access are felt on multiple levels. For researchers, it primarily increases the visibility and citation of their work and facilitates the faster dissemination of research results. It also provides opportunities for collaboration with researchers of similar specialization and institutions, both domestically and internationally. Open access publishing supports education and stimulates economic development. It is the most important direction for the advancement of modern science. 

 

Open Access models in the context of reuse rights:

  • Gratis Open Access - the author agrees to make the publication available online without specifying an Open Access license, which indicates limited possibilities for content reuse. 
  • Libre Open Access - with the author's consent, the publication is available under a license that allows broad content reuse. This model often uses Creative Commons licenses. 

Open Access models based on publication method:

  • Gold Open Access - In this model, scientific publications in open access journals are freely available on the publisher's website immediately upon publication under an open license, such as Creative Commons. Free access to the published versions is available to all users. Publishing in Gold Open Access involves covering publication costs (known as Article Processing Charges, APC)

                                                 Infographic about Gold Open Access. Publications in open/hybrid journals. APC fees required. Possible APC funding sources: institutional funds, grants, licensing programs. Publications are immediately available under an open license.

  • Green Open Access - The author can self-archive a version of the publication in an institutional or subject repository after the article has been published in a subscription-based journal. Publishers often have varying policies regarding which version of the publication (preprint, postprint, published version) and when (embargo period) can be deposited in the repository. Authors should review the publisher’s policy before making any version of the publication available online. This can be done by checking the publisher's website, searching for the journal in the Open policy finder database (formerly Sherpa Romeo), reviewing the publishing agreement, or contacting the publisher/editor directly. Green Open Access does not require publication fees (APC) from the author. Readers may have free access only to preprints or postprints via repositories, but access to the final published version on the publisher’s site (which may differ significantly from the preprint/postprint) is available only through payment or subscription.

                                                   Infographic about Green Open Access. Publications in traditional/subscription journals. No APC fees. Paid or subscription access to the published version. The author self-archives the article, e.g., in a repository, according to the publisher's policy.

  • Diamond Open Access - A publishing model also known as Platinum Open Access. Similar to Gold Open Access, the publication is available immediately upon release, free of charge, under an open license such as Creative Commons. However, in this case, the author does not pay any publication fees.

                                                                        Infographic about Diamond Open Access. Publications in open journals, no APC fees. Immediate access to the published version under an open license.

  • Bronze Open Access - Publications are available on the publisher's website but without a clearly specified license. In practice, this means that readers can freely read the articles, but the ability to reuse, modify, or copy the content is restricted. Access to such publications may be temporary. 

                                                                       Infographic about Bronze Open Access. Typically, no APC fees. Publication available without a specified open license or permission for reuse.

⇒ For more information on legal issues involved in open access publishing, click here.

⇒ Listen to the statements of researchers from various research centres in Poland concerning open access (talks of the EBIB Association and the Open Science Coalition during the Open Access Week 2018).

 

OPEN PUBLISHING – OPEN ACCESS PROGRAMS AT JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY

Authors affiliated with Jagiellonian University can publish their articles in hybrid scientific journals using the Open Access (OA) model without incurring costs, through various open access programs managed by ICM under the Virtual Library of Science (WBN) license. Publication costs may also be covered based on individual agreements between Jagiellonian University and publishers. Publication fees (APC) are centrally funded from resources provided by the Ministry of Education and Science (MEiN) or additional university funds. 

For more information about open publishing: 

Open Science at Jagiellonian University - How to publish? 

Virtual Library of Science (WBN) - Open publishing programs