Pilot project supports scholar-led journals

Kiel/Hamburg, 22 June 2021: ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre Economics starts Open Library Economics (OLEcon) to support scholar-led journals in the fields of economics and business research. Journals that wish to operate independently of publishing houses can receive funding, support and journal hosting. A non-commercial platform gives scientists the opportunity to govern scientific journals themselves.

The scientific publishing market is currently in a process of change. Alongside traditional ways of publishing research results, the Open Access movement gains more and more momentum. The plan of the transition of scientific publishing to Open Access has already yielded first positive results, e.g. with project DEAL. However, the scientific publishing system is diverse. We need a differentiated approach with new and innovative business models to achieve Open Access also in other segments of the publishing system.

ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics wants to contribute to more diversity in the publishing market. In 2021, ZBW starts the pilot project Open Library Economics (OLEcon) to support scholar-led scientific journals that wish to operate independently of publishing houses. With OLEcon, ZBW will fund the transition to an Open Access business model without author-facing charges, the so-called Diamond Open Access.

Open Library Economics offers journals funding for the transition of their business model. OLEcon also offers support for the long-term funding of the journals via library consortia. Furthermore, OLEcon offers advice for journal editors during the whole transition process and journal hosting services via a partner of ZBW.

OLEcon welcomes applications from journals that are relevant for German economics and business studies. They should be scholar-led or strive to be scholar-led. We can support journals that currently appear under a subscription business model (Closed Access) or journals that currently are Open Access and need funding. Under certain circumstances, OLEcon can also support newly founded journals. In addition, journals should meet relevant scientific standards and the editors should endorse Open Access for their journal.

Further information on Open Library Economics