The library as a publisherExperience from the University of Bergen Library

Ingrid CutlerThe University of Bergen Library, Uppsala, 25. November 2009

Bergen Open Access Publishing

• A publishing service at the University of Bergen Library

• Started as a project in 2008• Continued in 2009: a national service• 2010 ?

Background

• 2007: contacted by a research group at the University of Bergen

• Support for two existing journals• Knew about the library’s open access work• The library already had experience with one

OA journal (NORIL)• Economic sustainability for independent

journals

The project 2008: local service• Received support from Norwegian Open Research Archives

(NORA)• Started out summer 2008• Open Journal Systems (OJS)• Marketed the service locally (and nationally)• Many were interested – also in other types of publishing

services• 2 (+4) journals• Lost one journal to TA publisher• Problem of running the service as a project

The project 2009: national service

• Several libraries are offering the same type of service• More journals (7?) – more questions/demands• Coordinating, training, additional value• What is needed?• Coursing library staff, workshop in OJS • “Best practice” guide• What service to offer?

Open Access journals in Norway

• 18 OA journals, 13 academic, 7 OJS, 7 library • UiT, UiO, UiB, NTNU• 10? new/ emerging to OJS• Network• Norwegian translation of OJS• National search and archiving

1. Acta Didactica Norge: Academic journal (level 1): Independent/UiO, OJS 2. Chironomus newsletter on Chironomidae research: Academic journal (level 1):

Independent3. Dictum, The Critical View: Independent 4. FORMakademisk: Academic journal (level 1): Independent, OJS 5. Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies: Academic journal (level 1): Independent6. Michael: Academic journal (level 1): Independent7. Nordic Journal of Information Literacy: (NORIL) Academic journal (level 1),UiB, OJS 8. Nordisk barnehageforskning: Academic journal (level 1): Independent/ OJS9. Nordlit. Arbeidstidsskrift i litteratur.: Academic journal (level 1): Independent10. Nordlyd. Tromsø University Working Papers on Language & Linguistics: UiT 11. Norsk Epidemiologi: Academic journal (level 1): Independent12. Norwegian Journal of Geology: Academic journal (level 1): Independent13. OSLa - Oslo Studies in Language: Academic journal (level 1): UiO, OJS14. Rangifer: OJS, Academic journal (level 1): UiT, OJS15. Seminar.net: Academic journal (level 1): Independent16. SMH-nytt: UiB, OJS17. Telektronikk: Independent18. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy: UiB

Experience gained• There is a need for such a publishing service at UiB (and

nationally)• Saves editors from some work – but not enough?• Free hosting – saves money• Can offer a basic service: training in software (a guide)• Other services needed: adding value (DOI, Indexing,

templates, print-on-demand, design)• Coordinating• But – editors must do some work themselves• Takes time! • Need for “a new type” of library staff

The library as a publisher?

Strategy of the University of Bergen Library

• The library should help assist the university’s development as an internationally visible research institution

• The goal of the university library is to collect and make available information to help raise the quality of the research, teaching, learning and communication that takes place at the university

What type of publishing service?• Facilitate Open Access

initiatives• Service for researchers• Know-how• Infrastructure• Basic design• Coordination• Network• Need for knowledge

• Time and knowledge• Mandate/ strategy• University publishing

service – the library?• Basic service – not

enough?• In the start out

Contact information:

Ingrid CutlerThe University of Bergen LibraryIngrid.Cutler@ub.uib.noBergen Open Access Publishing