The Open Journals Collective (OJC) is delighted to announce that University of Leeds Libraries has joined us, supporting our multidisciplinary collection of scholar-led journals. The University of Leeds is one of the UK’s largest research-intensive universities, with researchers working across disciplines to address local and global challenges, achieve social justice, reduce inequalities and help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The OJC is dedicated to transforming the way that academic research is supported and disseminated, working to make journals free to read and publish in, offering a viable alternative to commercial transformative agreements, and empowering journals to flip to diamond open access. The support of institutions such as the University of Leeds is instrumental to building this community-funded, values-led model. Leeds’ commitment strengthens a growing international effort to create sustainable alternatives for open access publishing.
University of Leeds Libraries has a strong track record of championing open access and open research, including innovative initiatives such as University of Leeds Open Books, the N8 network’s rights retention approach for research publications, and their role in the White Rose University Press. Their strategic vision of ‘Knowledge for All’, and their ambition to be a global digital leader for libraries, aligns perfectly with the OJC’s mission to support open and sustainable dissemination of research.
Jane Saunders, Associate Director: Content and Discovery at University of Leeds Libraries, said “Joining the Open Journals Collective gives us an exciting opportunity to reshape the scholarly communications landscape by supporting scholar-led, openly published journals.”
Josh Sendall, Acting University Librarian at University of Leeds Libraries, said:
“Our membership of the Open Journals Collective reflects Leeds’ commitment to open, equitable and sustainable scholarly communication. By supporting scholar-led, diamond open access publishing, we are investing in alternatives that align with our academic values and serve the public good. We are pleased to work alongside partners who are reshaping academic publishing in practical and principled ways.”
Tom Shaw, the Open Journals Collective’s Library Engagement Lead, said: “I am thrilled to welcome University of Leeds Libraries to the Open Journals Collective. As a former librarian, I know first hand how challenging it is to navigate a scholarly publishing ecosystem that doesn’t meet the needs of authors, libraries or institutions. The support of Leeds will be critical in helping us build an alternative to commercial big deals through diamond open access, and we look forward to working in partnership with them”.
Professor Caroline Edwards, Executive Director of the Open Journals Collective, said: “We’re so excited to be partnering with the brilliant library team at the University of Leeds, who have been at the forefront of advocacy efforts for sustainable, non-profit open access in the UK. The Library’s Vision for 2030 cements its vanguard role in building strong partnerships with scholarly communities. Supporting OJC is evidence that Leeds Library is willing to follow through on this bold commitment.”