Social Science Space

With the final consultation period now over, the open access policy for Britain’s next Research Excellence Framework has been released. Alma Swan looks at the rollout–which requires the deposit of articles into repositories–and finds this is pragmatic but good policymaking that should help shift the culture in British universities towards open access.

The principles underlying the Finch report – access, usability, quality, cost and sustainability – are broadly to be commended, writes […]

The opportunity for H&SS to reach much wider audiences who appreciate the value of their work generally, and to reach those specific people who will make important use of it is enormous.

Simon Ball, Head of the School of Humanities at the University of Glasgow, discusses the dangers of Gold Route OA to the Humanities and scholarship in general.

We are personally skeptical about many of the major premises of Open Access Publishing, and we are certain that many of the potential implications have not been thought through. The Finch Report pays remarkably little heed to the detailed arrangements that may need to be put in place.

A quick overview of the Finch Report on Open Access, and useful links.