Library FAQ

Why would libraries subscribe-to-open?

Subscribe-to-open aims to make a full (non-hybrid) conversion to open access possible on an on-going and sustainable basis. It does so without charging authors APCs, imposing embargoes on published work, placing restrictions on who can publish, or setting any other limits on what version may be shared, such as draft-only preprint policies. It involves librarians in their traditional professional role, as deciding and curating which open access journals merit support, including born-open journals. It allows for institutions with the requisite resources to support the publication of journals so that their research may also benefit those with fewer resources.

In adopting subscribe-to-open, librarians can ensure that the benefits of making works publicly available can be realized across a more diverse publications landscape in a more equitable manner.

Researchers can support the BOA-S2O initiative by contacting their libraries directly or filling out a recommendation form.

How can libraries support subscribe-to-open?

Ongoing support for BOA-S2O from current subscribers is as simple as annually renewing your subscription. An important consideration for this model is to make the process as easy as possible for libraries. To that end, we are working with subscription agents so that invoicing and renewals happen through the usual subscription channels. We are happy to help at any point of the process: info@berghahnjournals.com

For new libraries, who are interested to support the initiative, single titles can be subscribed to through your agent using the usual channels. Libraries, who wish to select the Berghahn Open Anthro S2O collection, please contact Knowledge Unlatched, who are supporting us in our efforts: info@knowledgeunlatched.org

What are the benefits of supporting BOA - S2O?

  • Cost-neutral: With a discounted pricing structure for multi-year agreements, uncapped publishing, and existing subscription workflows, there are no added costs.
  • Comprehensive data support and compliance: Authorship reporting via OA Switchboard and COUNTER-compliant platform reporting to serve library usage assessment needs via accessibility-compliant platform.
  • Values-aligned: Recognition for supporting equity and sustainability in OA by helping to remove prohibitive publication costs for authors and paywalls for readers.
  • Wide readership benefits: Access and perpetual rights to impactful anthropological research by top journals in the field.
  • Added value: Immediate full backfile access for the subscribed titles for the duration of an active subscription at no extra charge.
  • Future proof: A flexible Green Open Access policy is available alongside the newly implemented “guaranteed open access” path for researchers at supporting institutions to ensure a Gold OA article publication should the threshold not be met for a particular year.
  • Lasting impact: Open access articles remain open in perpetuity even if future volumes revert to a paywall.

How is BOA-S2O pricing determined?

The BOA-S2O model will sustain Berghahn’s editorial rigor, high production values, and robust online editions. The subscription rates set each year will continue to support the costs associated with producing each journal, which range from supporting journal editorial offices and their peer review processes to implementing a thorough copyediting stage through to typesetting and online publication. In addition, print editions are still produced for contributors and those subscribers, who have opted for print-extra pricing. Implementing this model will also introduce a new technical system to track and report on open access usage of the journals by the library community’s readership, alongside authorship and faculty participation as editors, board members, and reviewers. These on-going investments inform the 5% increase implemented for the model’s pricing, which remains affordable: the average one-off subscription price for the thirteen journals is just $244 (lower still for collections). As part of this model, Berghahn is committed to accounting for price increases through on-going service improvements and uncompromised quality.

View the 2024 Berghahn Open Anthro Collection pricing

What are your site license policies for Berghahn Open Anthro journals?

The Berghahn site license applies to all pre-2020 content for all journal articles within the Berghahn Open Anthro initiative. From January 1st, 2020 when the Berghahn Open Anthro initiative began, the CC BY license attributed to each article applies to the open access content.

What statistics are provided for the Berghahn Open Anthro S2O Package?

COUNTER 5 reporting is provided for actively participating BOA-S2O libraries. In addition, an important goal of this initiative is to upgrade the quality and range of statistics provided to meet the needs of librarians. Future reporting therefore aims to provide a wider overview of community engagement, such as faculty relationships to the journals, whether as authors, editors, board members, or reviewers.

What happens to pre-OA backfile content?

Berghahn works closely with a number of important partners to offer a range of access options to its backfile. In keeping with our current backfile access policies, all subscribing libraries have access to the backfile for the duration of their subscription; the same holds for those libraries participating in the BOA-S2O initiative: for the duration of their active subscription, libraries subscribing to select titles have access to the backfiles for those titles and those libraries subscribing to the entire BOA collection will have access to the full backfile for all the titles in the collection.

What happens if libraries do not support subscribe-to-open?

This model relies on the generation of subscription revenues from existing and new subscribers to ensure no loss of quality or quantity with open access publication. Thus, if an insufficient number of libraries participate in the S2O initiative, Berghahn may have to revert to paywall subscriptions for the thirteen journals. However, those libraries who have renewed all of their BOA-S2O subscriptions, or new libraries who have joined in support of this initiative, will be provided with access to the entire Berghahn Open Anthro S2O collection of journals for the duration of the initiative as part of our longer-term optimism for success.

Any questions?

We welcome your feedback and any additional questions you might have. Please feel free to email us: info@berghahnjournals.com