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Open Access

"Read and Publish" Agreements

A "Read and Publish" agreement is an agreement that bundles journal subscriptions and APCs, allowing university researchers to publish Open Access articles in hybrid or full open-access journals using prepaid APCs. They are intended to be transitional, making it easier for publishers to move from a subscription to an OA model. These agreements are negotiated at the national level by the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries. They only cover journal articles, not monographs. 

Switzerland currently has Read and Publish agreements with:

How does it work?

Eligible authors are automatically identified by their affiliation or e-mail address and offered the Open Access option. The library of the Geneva Graduate Institute validates their affiliation. In the case of multiple authors, the corresponding author must be affiliated with the Geneva Graduate Institute. Some article types (book reviews or forum articles) are not covered by these agreements, and some journals may also be excluded (especially medical journals).

Assessing the Quality of an OA Journal

  • The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a "white list" of Open Access and peer-reviewed journals whose quality has been assessed. It also includes information on publication charges, where applicable.
  • The ThinkCheckSubmit website provides sound advice on evaluating journals. ThinkCheckAttend provides information on predatory conferences. Another interesting resource: A beginner's guide to avoiding "predatory" journals (using your critical thinking skills). 
  • Compass to Publish, from the University of Liège, offers a test that allows you to assess the degree of authenticity of a journal by answering questions.
  • Check the journal's website: members of the editorial board (although some fake journals use the names of academics without their knowledge or permission, check their website to see if they mention the journal), information about the peer review process, is there clear information about the publication fees, is there a clearly defined subject area, does the journal promise an unrealistically fast turnaround time?
  • Beware: some unscrupulous journals may choose a title that is close to the title of an established journal. Many of them like to have the words "international", "European" or "American" in their titles. 
  • Check several issues of the journal and make your own judgement.
  • And, of course, be wary of unsolicited emails inviting you to contribute, to join an editorial board, or speak at a conference, especially if they are overly flattering.