Researcher Compass

Researchers who want their papers disseminated to the maximum number of readers often seek ways to bypass journal paywalls. One pathway is publishing their work with open access (OA), allowing people without journal subscriptions to read their research outputs freely. While the idea is appealing, a main obstacle hindering OA publishing is the article processing charge (APC). This APC, varying among different journals, can cost thousands of US dollars per article, which can be unaffordable for young scholars, researchers with limited budgets, or authors from low- and middle-income countries, as these less-privileged groups have limited resources for OA publishing.

To tackle the cost when it's too steep to afford, CityUHK authors can consider several options:

1. Read-and-Publish Agreements
   Read-and-Publish Agreements are contracts between academic institutions and publishers that combine two key elements: (1) READ component that covers traditional journal subscription access, allowing institutional users to read the publisher's content, and (2) PUBLISH component that covers Article Processing Charges (APCs) for open access publishing, enabling affiliated authors to publish their work as open access at reduced or no cost. CityUHK authors can check the OA Support Services website - APC deals to see which publishers have Read-and-Publish Agreements with CityUHK, enabling them to publish papers open access with APC covered by institutional agreements. To search for any specific journal titles, or titles associated with specific subjects, use the CityUHK Read-and-Publish Agreement Journal Finder.

2. CityUHK Open Access Publishing Fund
   The CityUHK Open Access Publishing Fund is dedicated financial support that helps CityUHK faculty publish their work in open access journals. It partially subsidizes Article Processing Charges (APCs) for faculty members, reducing the financial barrier to open access publishing. CityUHK faculty can check the Terms and Conditions page through the Fund website to ensure they meet requirements for eligible authors and publications, and submit the application via the Online Application link.

3. Self-archiving (Green open access)
   Self-archiving, also known as Green open access, is another effective way to achieve open access. This practice involves depositing a version of your manuscript into CityU Scholars to make it openly accessible. The permitted version often refers to the postprint version of your work, with specific terms and conditions determining how and when the article can be made openly accessible. Compared to open access publishing, self-archiving is inexpensive; authors can make their Green version openly accessible at no extra charge. CityUHK authors can submit their postprint version of papers via this page for self-archiving.

Making research openly accessible is not just about overcoming financial barriers - it's also about maximizing research visibility and impact. While APC costs can present significant challenges, CityUHK researchers have multiple pathways to achieve open access publishing. Through institutional Read-and-Publish agreements, the university's OA Publishing Fund, or self-archiving options, authors can choose the most suitable approach based on their circumstances and publishing needs. By utilizing these options, researchers can not only overcome financial obstacles but also increase their work's visibility, potentially leading to higher readership, more citations, and greater research impact. These open access pathways ultimately serve both individual researchers' career development and the broader mission of making scholarly research freely available to the global academic community.

For any enquiries about open access publishing, please contact the Open Access Services, Research Support and Scholarly Communication, Run Run Shaw Library at lbopen@cityu.edu.hk