Books and chapters open access checklist
Here is a checklist to help you pick the right route to open access for you and your funder.
Check your funder’s open access requirements
Check the publisher’s open access policy
Check the Book Processing Charge
Look for funding options
Check your funder’s open access requirements
Does your funder require you to publish your book with Green or Gold open access?
Some funders require that research is made open access immediately upon publication, this is known as Gold open access. Your funder may also require you to publish under a specific licence.
Others will ask you to publish the Author Accepted Manuscript in a non-profit or Institutional Repository, otherwise known as Green open access.
You can use Sherpa Juliet to check the major funder’s policies.
Check your publisher’s open access policy
If you are going the Green open access route, you will need to check if your chosen publisher’s open access policy is in line with your funder's requirements. For example, many publishers will ask for an embargo period before your work is uploaded to an institutional repository.
Bristol University Press and Policy Press policies are fully compliant with funder mandates. See our Green (self-archiving) open access policy for more information.
How much does the publisher charge for Gold open access?
If you are going the Gold open access route, it is a good idea to check how much it will cost and how you will pay for it.
The publisher might only make a book or chapter open access immediately on publication by paying a book processing charge (BPC). These charges will be listed on the publisher’s website.
See the BPCs for Bristol University Press and Policy Press.
Your library may have arranged BPC discounts with selected publishers. These agreements allow faculty to publish books with a discounted BPC.
For example, Bristol University Press offers a BPC discount to faculty at institutions that have a Read and Publish Agreement with us.
Look for funding options
Funding is available to help authors pay BPCs:
- BPC funding may be included in the initial research grant application budget
- Grantees can often use remaining research funds for BPCs
- Discipline specific funds
- Your institution may administer block grants from funders (e.g. UKRI)
When applying for funding check whether your chosen publisher meets your open access funding conditions – are your funds restricted to fully open access options with a CC BY copyright licence?