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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:

  • Cambridge University Press (unlimited in all hybrid and full OA journals) 
  • Elsevier Update 21st December 2023: the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries and Elsevier are currently negotiating a new agreement, but they have not yet been able to reach a deal. The current agreement expires on December 31st, 2023. Articles submitted before this date will still be able to benefit from the agreement, but articles submitted in 2024 will not be able to do so until an agreement is reached. The SNF will no longer pay APCs (publication charges) in Elsevier's fully open-access journals in order not to weaken Switzerland's negotiating position.
  • Oxford University Press (hybrid journals, research or review articles only)
  • Sage
  • Springer (hybrid journals only)
  • Taylor and Francis
  • Wiley (hybrid journals only, discount on APCs for full OA journals).

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). 
  • 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.