Academic publishing involves more than simply making research findings visible. With every publication, you also determine the conditions under which academic knowledge becomes accessible, who controls the publication processes, and how funding and organisation are provided.

Scholar-led publishing steps in right here: the academic community takes responsibility for publishing and helps shape the conditions under which it takes place. Scientific independence, openness, orientation towards the common good and the diversity of publication models can all play an important role in this. For researchers, this opens up new opportunities to play an active part in shaping publication processes.

Scholar-led publishing is not a one-size-fits-all publication model. In the open access landscape, the terms community-driven publishing and scholar-led publishing have become well established.

• Community-driven publishing: Non-commercial publishing projects in which the academic community – such as editors, universities or professional societies – retains the primary responsibility for and control over the publishing process.
• Scholar-led publishing: Independent, non-commercial publishing projects in which academics largely organise the publishing process themselves and take on editorial, technical and administrative tasks in addition to their academic work.

The boundaries between these models are blurred. However, both aim to place greater control over academic publishing in the hands of the academic community itself.

Scholar-led publication models can help to maintain and expand diversity within the academic publishing system.

For researchers, this might mean, for example:

• Greater freedom: Researchers and research communities can play an active role in shaping publication processes.
• Greater independence: Publishing decisions can be guided more by academic needs and less by commercial interests.
• Open access: Research findings can be made as freely accessible and reusable as possible.
• Diversity: Alternative forms of publication and smaller, subject-specific publishing projects can be maintained and further developed.
• Innovation: Scholar-led projects can explore new forms of publication, quality assurance and academic communication.

HTW Berlin supports Open Access as part of an open academic culture. In its Open Access Policy, it encourages members of the university community to make academic findings and research data openly accessible. Among other things, it recommends Open Access publications under free licences and supports secondary publication via the institutional repository OPUShtw.

At the same time, the policy makes it clear: The decision on the nature and timing of a publication remains with the researchers. This means that the question of how you publish is also part of your scientific freedom of expression.

Are you considering which form of publication is best suited to your project? Or would you like to gain a better understanding of the terms and conditions of an existing publication offer?

The HTW Berlin University Library is here to help with any questions you may have regarding open access and academic publishing.

Among other things, we can advise you on:

• Open-access publication paths and suitable publication models
• Secondary publication and review of the respective legal framework
• Publication on the institutional repository OPUShtw
• Copyright, rights of use and Creative Commons licences