Invitation to Tender: Project to support the transition to open access long-form publications

A new research sector‑led project has been launched to support UK research organisations in implementing open access (OA) for long‑form publications. 

Open access for journal articles is well established but approaches to OA for long-form publications are diverse and evolving. With UKRI’s OA policy for long‑form and expectations that future Research Excellence Frameworks may include OA long-form requirements, institutions are addressing common questions around policy, funding models, rights retention, and researcher support. 

The Advancing Long-form Open Access Practice Project aims to address this by working collectively with the research sector to develop shared guidance and support. ARMA, RLUK, and SCONUL have come together with funding from UKRI to enable a more coordinated and strategic approach in the transition to OA long-form publications.   

Read the full Invitation to Tender

The project will: 

• Assess current practice in OA long-form and identify key challenges and support needs 

• develop practical guidance for library and research office staff to help their academics/ authors with issues around OA long-form 

• commission legal advice on rights retention for long-form and translate this into accessible guidance for institutions; and 

• deliver advocacy, engagement, and training activities to support institutions with differing levels of experience and resource. 

The work is being undertaken in collaboration with representatives from across the research community.  Open access is an exciting and dynamic field, with many organisations already making meaningful contributions through innovative insights and initiatives.  

The project will complement this existing activity and share learning. Organisations currently working on related areas of open access are encouraged to get in touch via RLUK. 

For more information, please contact David Prosser, Executive Director of RLUK: david.prosser@rluk.ac.uk.  

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Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA UK) is the professional membership association for research leaders, managers and administrators in the UK. They have over 3,500 members from around 250 organisations, ranging from universities and funding bodies to the National Health Service and independent research institutions.  

RLUK is a consortium of the most significant research libraries in the UK and Ireland. Our purpose is to shape the research and library agenda, and contribute to the wider knowledge economy through innovative projects and services that add value and impact to the process of research.  

SCONUL is the Society of College, National and University Libraries. We represent all university libraries in the UK and Ireland, irrespective of mission group, as well as national libraries and many of the UK’s research institutions. SCONUL promotes awareness of the role of academic and research libraries in supporting research excellence and student achievement and employability, and represents their views and interests to government, regulators and other stakeholders. It helps libraries collaborate to deliver services efficiently, including through shared services, and to share knowledge and best practice. For more information about SCONUL contact Ann Rossiter at ann.rossiter@sconul.ac.uk.  

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Over the next 4 years it will invest almost £10b billion each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen.