Hoboken, NJ – January 11, 2024 – In a groundbreaking move, the University of California (UC) system comprising 10 campuses, alongside 48 private and public academic and research institutions represented by the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC), has inked a landmark open access agreement with Wiley, one of the globe's largest publishing entities. The innovative three-year collaboration, effective this month, heralds a significant stride towards widening access to scholarly research in California.
Maria DePrano, chair of the UC faculty Academic Senate’s systemwide committee on library and scholarly communication, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity this partnership presents. She underscored the potential of California's groundbreaking research to impact fields such as medicine, environmental sustainability, and society at large. The agreement, she noted, will facilitate the dissemination of Californian scholars' work worldwide, fostering collaboration and innovation.
This transformative alliance, building upon existing collaborations, ensures continued access to subscription content while bolstering support for open access publication within Wiley's extensive journal network. Liz Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Wiley Research Publishing, hailed the agreement as revolutionary, emphasizing its benefits for scholars across California.
The agreement redirects existing library subscription funds to facilitate open access publication in over 1,600 hybrid and gold open access Wiley journals. Authors with available grant funds will enjoy discounted publishing fees, while those without funding will have their publication costs fully covered.
Lev Rickards, Chair of SCELC’s Scholarly Communication Committee, lauded the agreement for its inclusivity, catering to the diverse research output of participating institutions. He praised Wiley's commitment to collaboration, highlighting the benefits for smaller institutions in managing publication costs.
With a focus on promoting open access and controlling journal expenditures, the agreement aligns with the missions of UC and SCELC institutions. It represents a significant step towards sustainable open access publishing, making California's research accessible globally.
Moreover, the agreement underscores a commitment to safeguarding author rights. Wiley pledges to develop a new global license to publish agreement over the next six months, aiming to grant authors unrestricted rights to their work in most cases.
This historic agreement underscores the pivotal role of multi-institution partnerships in advancing the open access movement, ensuring equitable access to scholarly research across academic landscapes.
