Understanding the Impact on Print Revenue When University Press Books are Open Access

FAIN: HAA-284855-22

Association of University Presses, Inc. (New York, NY 10018-9228)
John E. Sherer (Project Director: June 2021 to September 2024)
Erich van Rijn (Co Project Director: December 2021 to September 2024)

A survey of scholarly presses and the preparation of a report on revenue models for open access publishing.

The project seeks to understand empirically whether the availability of Open Access (OA) editions of scholarly books has a quantifiable effect on the sales performance of print editions. University presses publish an estimated 4000 monographs annually. While many university presses have pursued experiments with OA publishing, sustainable financing of all publishing operations is a significant concern. This study will gather sales data on a significant number of both OA and traditionally published titles across multiple disciplines from a wide array of non-profit scholarly publishers in order to answer one of the biggest questions in humanities book publishing: does an OA option decrease sales, increase sales via greater discovery, or have no discernible effect? The research will be essential to inform future OA book programs and models, pointing the way to expanding sustainable open publishing operations.

Media Coverage

Open-Access Books Help University Press Revenues, Study Finds (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Lauren Coffey
Publication: InsideHigherEd
Date: 9/22/2023
Abstract: Quick Takes News item shared the top-level findings of the report and some key takeaways.
URL: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/09/22/report-open-access-books-help-university-press-revenues

Associated Products

Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs A University Press Study (Report)
Title: Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs A University Press Study
Author: Laura Brown
Author: Maya Dayan
Author: Brenna McLaughlin
Author: Roger C. Schonfeld
Author: John Sherer
Author: Erich van Rijn
Abstract: Monographs are central to both university press publishing, and to the humanities scholarly ecosystem. The shift of much global scholarly communications to open access (OA) models began in the sciences and in journals publishing, but there is growing interest in seeing more open scholarship in the book-based humanities disciplines. Many university presses are at least experimenting with open models in book-publishing programs, but seek more evidence as to the impact of open digital editions on monograph sales prospects. Expectations of the effect of offering a book OA range from concern that print revenue (and thus press operating funds) will erode, to anticipation that OA editions will aid in discovery while print remains a reading format preference. This study collected key data on 976 open access books from 26 members of the Association of University Presses, including publication dates, BISAC subject codes, cloth/paper print sales in units and revenue, and any consumer ebook sales revenue. The study found that significant print revenues are still generated when an OA edition is available, that high-selling outlier titles are possible, and that sales vary significantly by field.
Date: 09/19/2023
Primary URL: https://doi.org/10.18665/sr.319642
Primary URL Description: DOI permalink
Secondary URL: https://sr.ithaka.org/publications/print-revenue-and-open-access-monographs/
Secondary URL Description: Report hosted by Ithaka S+R
Access Model: CC BY-NC 4.0

Data: Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: Data: Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs
Author: Association of University Presses
Abstract: Anonymized data set for "Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs: A University Press Study," containing data on 976 OA books. This study was undertaken over 2022-2023 by AUPresses and Ithaka S+R, supported by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Year: 2023
Primary URL: https://doi.org/10.17613/34af-sx32
Primary URL Description: DOI permalink
Access Model: CC BY-NC 4.0

Open Access and Sales Revenue Can Co-Exist (Blog Post)
Title: Open Access and Sales Revenue Can Co-Exist
Author: Laura Brown
Author: Roger C. Schonfeld
Author: John Sherer
Author: Erich van Rijn
Abstract: Developing sustainable open access book publishing models is particularly important for university presses which see the benefits of increased dissemination, but already operate under razor-thin margins, and subscribe to open models have gained traction in recent years. To gather evidence that we hope will provide new options for open access models, with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Association of University Presses and Ithaka S+R have just published our new research study on open access and sales revenue. Our key finding: open access monographs can generate significant revenue — both on the print side and digitally.
Date: 09/21/2023
Primary URL: https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2023/09/21/open-access-sales-co-exist/
Primary URL Description: Post at The Scholarly Kitchen, a blog hosted by the Society for Scholarly Publishing.
Blog Title: The Scholarly Kitchen; "Open Access and Sales Revenue Can Co-Exist"
Website: The Scholarly Kitchen

Unpacking the Open Access Impact on Print Book Sales (Public Lecture or Presentation)
Title: Unpacking the Open Access Impact on Print Book Sales
Abstract: In September 2023, Ithaka S+R and the Association of University Presses published the report "Print Revenue and Open Access Monographs: A University Press Study," as well as its affiliated data set. Authors of the study joined the Association at a public webinar during OA Week 2023 to discuss the findings in this report, and to share ideas about how university presses can use the information to develop sustainable OA monograph publishing solutions.
Author: Roger Schonfeld
Author: Brenna McLaughlin
Author: John Sherer
Author: Erich van Rijn
Author: Laura Brown
Date: 10/24/2023
Location: Online
Primary URL: https://vimeo.com/884515514?share=copy
Primary URL Description: Video recording of the 1-hour online presentation, hosted on the Vimeo platform.

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