This is an annotated bibliography of case studies in open access publishing from the perspective of the library as publisher and academic as editor.

Tracking projects
The Open Access Tracking Project has a tag library for the “oa.case.journals” tag (case studies on OA journals).

Library-as-publisher case studies

Willinksy, J & Mendis, R (2007) Case studies in open access publishing, Number three. Open access on a zero budget: a case study of Postcolonial Text, Information Research, Vol 12, No 3

• Written by one of the architects of the OJS system, this paper has some philosophical
  

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  background but does give examples of how OJS works including screen grabs. Notable quote: “What is fixed … is the amount of clerical time involved in tracking submissions, dating transactions and recording versions. It was precisely this aspect the Open Journal Systems has been designed to take care of for the journal editor”.

Elbaek, M & Nondal, L (2007) The Library as a mediator for e-publishing: A case on how a library can become a significant factor in facilitating digital scholarly communication and open access publishing for less web-savvy journals, First Monday Vol 2, No 10

• Abstract: “…The Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Library provides a low risk environment for small journals related to the business school to make a gradual transition to e-publishing/e-archiving. Whether they at a later stage take the full step towards open access publishing remains to be seen. It is our firm belief that this gradual transition is essential for these smaller journals to eventually arrive online at all.”

Morgan, T, “A content management strategy – implementing OJS and OCS at Swinburne University library”, PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference 2007. PPTs and MP3 recording available.

• Abstract: “… This paper presents a case study on using the PKP OJS and OCS software to establish new library services to support online journal and conference publishing. … The library has established the Swinburne Online Journals project to support open access online journal publishing by the university. … The paper will discuss the implementation process for this service, covering both technical and organisational aspects.”

Tracking projects
The Open Access Tracking Project has a tag library for the “oa.libpub” tag (libraries as publishers).

Researcher-as-editor case studies

Haggerty, KD (2008) Case studies in open access publishing, Number Five. Taking the plunge: open access and the Canadian Journal of Sociology, Information Research, Vol 13, No 1

• Notes: This describes the transition of a journal from toll access to open access journal from the perspective of the editor. It discusses issues of governance and the editorial process generally. Includes a discussion of how to manage aggregates and the issue of maintaining access to back issues of the journal. A notable quote: “…it would still have been tremendously easier to just start an entirely new electronic open access publication than make the transition from an existing print journal.”

Solomon, D (2007) Case studies in open access publishing. Number two. Medical Education Online: a case study of an open access journal in health professional education, Information Research, Vol 12, No 2

• Abstract: “This paper discusses the development of Medical Education Online (MEO) an open access peer-reviewed journal in health professional education…. MEO was first published in April. … The case study discusses the process of establishing the journal, the development of the journal over time, its struggle coping with an increasing number of submissions, review procedures, journal management software, indexing and archiving issues, journal policies, and access statistics.“

Chew, F. et al “Open Access Web-Only Peer-Reviewed Journal for Radiology Case Reports: Development and Implementation”, PKP Scholarly Publishing Conference 2007. PPTs available.

• Abstract: “… Our objective was to create an economically viable peer-reviewed journal that filled the need for a venue to publish case reports in diagnostic radiology. … In its first year, Radiology Case Reports has not only survived but is actually thriving. We plan to add section editors for various subspecialties and will begin publicizing and marketing the journal to potential authors. Our goal is to capture at least 50% of the market for radiology case reports.”

Felczak , M, Lorimer , R & Smith  R (2007) From production to publishing at CJC online: Experiences, insights, and considerations for adoption, First Monday Vol 2, No 10

• Abstract: “We describe and analyze the dynamics of online publishing and technological development at the Canadian Journal of Communication with a focus on issues of ownership and control, financial stability, technological expertise, editorial outlook, and readership demand…”

Björk, BC & Turk, Z (2006) Case studies in open access publishing. Number one. The Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon): an open access journal using an un-paid, volunteer-based organization, Information Research, Vol 11, No 3,

• Abstract: “…Our overall experience demonstrates that it is possible to publish this type of OA journal, with a yearly publishing volume equal to a quarterly journal and involving the processing of some fifty submissions a year, using a networked volunteer-based organization.”

Other reading

Public Knowledge Project: selected papers from the Scholarly Publishing Conference, 11-13 July 2007, First Monday Volume 2, No 10 – 1 October 2007

• From the Preface: “The papers included in this special issue of First Monday are based upon presentations at the International Public Knowledge Project Scholarly Publishing Conference held at Simon Fraser University on 11–13 July 2007… The papers presented here provide insight into the development and operation of alternative publishing projects around the world … Also included are articles that give a theoretical framework to contextualize these real–world experiences, leading to a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges being faced by those looking for new ways of sharing scholarly information.”