About Open Access

AU Press is proud to be the first open access press established in Canada. Within the disciplines of the social sciences and humanities, open access has come to mean the publication of material online that is free for readers. However, not every publisher approaches open access the same way. Here at AU Press, we are committed to the publication of original scholarship in both print and digital formats. Our distribution is generously supported by our parent institution, Athabasca University—an institution with an open education mandate that actively seeks ways to reduce barriers to education. This support makes it possible for AU Press to evaluate projects based on their scholarly merit.

The following are answers to the most frequently asked questions about open access publishing at AU Press:

What is open access publishing?

AU Press is committed to gold open access, as it is practiced in the social sciences and the humanities. Gold OA is the free, immediate, and permanent online access to a publication’s version of record. All our books can be read online or downloaded as a free PDF. Our commitment to access also influences our pricing of the print edition and other digital editions. To protect our publications and the rights of our authors, we release all material under a Creative Commons license.

How much does it cost to publish an open access monograph?

Open access material is freely accessible but not free to produce. AU Press’s publication process does not differ from other university presses. Therefore, the costs associated with publication are similar. For a useful report on the average costs of producing a scholarly monograph, see the ITHAKA S+R Report on “The Costs of Publishing Monographs: Toward a Transparent Methodology.”

Does AU Press require me to bring funding for my book?

No. AU Press operates in Canada and is eligible for support through several provincial and national granting agencies. However, support from these agencies depends on the citizenship of the author or editor. As a result, citizenship of the author or editor is a factor in our publishing decisions, particularly when we examine the financial viability of a proposal. AU Press will work with prospective authors to seek funding and support when required.

Will my open access AU Press book be available in print?

Yes. In fact, AU Press distributes its publications in a variety of formats. In addition to making our books available for reading online, we offer readers the choice of a print edition and/or access to the publication in a digital form on many different platforms.

What is the peer review process at AU Press and does it differ from other university presses?

AU Press is committed to scholarly and editorial excellence. Our publications undergo rigorous peer review by at least two peer experts. The experts must produce a report, which the author/editor will have a chance to respond to. The reports and the author’s response are then presented to the AU Press editorial committee, which makes a publishing recommendation to the Press. The decision to publish rests with the Press.

Does publishing in open access make my work vulnerable to misuse?

AU Press allows authors and editors to retain copyright of their work. We release all our publications under a Creative Commons license. Creative Commons has been involved in conversations surrounding the open movement since the very beginning. Their licenses are used to protect many open access materials. The majority of AU Press publications are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license encourages users to download and share material with others, as long as it is properly attributed and there is no charge for its use.

Why should I choose to publish in open access with AU Press?

Although AU Press is exploring open access and the many opportunities for the sharing of knowledge that it presents, we remain committed to the university press mission of publishing work of scholarly, intellectual, and creative merit. Our not-for-profit status also assures authors that neither they nor their work will be used to produce financial gain for the Press, nor will it co-opt the original intentions of the open access movement by monetizing it.