Durham University Library and Collections Joins Open Journals Collective to Advance Diamond Open Access
Durham University Library and Collections has become the latest member of the Open Journals Collective, a growing international initiative designed to support community-governed, diamond open access publishing. The announcement marks another step in the UK higher-education sector’s efforts to reshape scholarly communication away from traditional commercial models.
The move aligns Durham with a network of libraries, university presses and non-profit publishers committed to making high-quality research freely available to read and publish without author fees or embargoes. By contributing to the collective, the university helps sustain a growing portfolio of journals across the humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines.
Understanding the Open Journals Collective
The Open Journals Collective is a non-profit Community Interest Company registered in the United Kingdom. It brings together libraries, scholarly societies and university-based publishers to fund and govern diamond open access journals collectively. Unlike transformative agreements that often involve large commercial publishers, the collective channels investment directly into the journals and the research communities they serve.
UK institutions can join through Jisc’s Licence Subscriptions Manager, integrating the process into familiar library workflows. The model emphasises sustainability, transparency and researcher ownership, providing an alternative to profit-driven publishing systems.
Durham’s Commitment to Open Research
Durham University has long supported open access through a range of publisher deals that reduce or eliminate article processing charges for its researchers. The addition of the Open Journals Collective expands these options, reinforcing the institution’s broader open research strategy that includes Durham Research Online and guidance on data management.
Library staff note that the collective complements existing agreements by focusing on non-commercial, community-led titles. This approach supports innovation in scholarly publishing while maintaining high editorial standards across disciplines.
Broader Context in UK Higher Education
UK universities continue to navigate significant change in scholarly publishing. Rising costs, shifting funder requirements and growing calls for equity in access have prompted institutions to explore collective models. The Open Journals Collective emerges at a time when many libraries seek greater control over how their budgets support research dissemination.
Participation in such initiatives reflects a sector-wide movement toward more sustainable and inclusive publishing ecosystems. Durham’s involvement highlights how individual institutions can contribute to systemic change while meeting the needs of their own researchers and students.
Benefits for Researchers and Students
For Durham academics and postgraduate researchers, membership expands the range of diamond open access venues where they can publish without financial barriers. Journals supported by the collective are free to read worldwide, increasing visibility and potential impact.
Students benefit indirectly through enhanced access to high-quality, openly available research that can inform their studies and future careers. The model also encourages greater diversity in editorial boards and authorship, aligning with wider equity, diversity and inclusion goals in UK higher education.
Implications for Scholarly Publishing
The collective represents a practical example of how libraries and publishers can collaborate to build resilient infrastructure. Funds raised support journal operations, editorial processes and community engagement rather than shareholder returns.
Early participants include a mix of established and emerging titles. As more institutions join, the collective aims to scale its impact, offering a viable pathway for journals seeking independence from commercial publishing conglomerates.
Future Outlook for the Sector
As the Open Journals Collective grows, its influence on UK and international scholarly communication is expected to increase. Libraries play a pivotal role in steering the direction of this community-governed model, ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of researchers and readers alike.
Durham’s participation signals confidence in the initiative and contributes to a critical mass of support that could accelerate the transition toward more equitable publishing practices across the higher-education landscape.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Library leaders at Durham emphasise the strategic value of collective action. By pooling resources with peer institutions, universities can amplify their impact while maintaining institutional autonomy in collection development.
Publishers involved in the collective highlight the opportunity to focus on editorial excellence and community service without the pressures of commercial targets. Researchers appreciate the removal of financial hurdles that sometimes limit where they choose to publish.
Photo by Michael D Beckwith on Unsplash
Challenges and Considerations
While promising, collective models require ongoing commitment from participating institutions. Libraries must balance investment in new initiatives with existing subscription and transformative agreements.
Ensuring long-term financial stability and maintaining rigorous peer-review standards remain priorities. The Open Journals Collective addresses these through transparent governance and reinvestment of all funds into the supported journals.
Actionable Insights for Institutions
Other UK universities considering similar steps can review the collective’s membership process through Jisc and assess alignment with their open research policies. Early engagement allows institutions to shape the development of supported titles and benefit from growing collections in key subject areas.
Regular monitoring of the collective’s catalogue helps libraries and researchers stay informed about new titles and opportunities for involvement.
