Toolkit: Open Access User Guide

This document draws on a similar project developed by Utrecht University and subsequently adopted by the University of Milan. Its aim is to provide the academic community with an overview of the various forms of open access for both journal articles and books, outlining the advantages and disadvantages, actions required, and the services provided by the relevant institutional units for each type of open access model. The 4EU+ Alliance supports open access through a range of initiatives and training activities aimed at fostering a shared knowledge base on open science practices, particularly among early-career researchers. Not all forms of open access are equivalent. A key distinction can be drawn between fee-based models (Gold and hybrid) and those that involve no direct costs for authors (Green and Diamond). Over time, the range of open access pathways has expanded considerably, introducing levels of complexity that were not initially envisaged. As such, this handy toolkit covers relevant information for researchers seeking to choose an appropriate open access model for both journal articles and books. The OA models considered for journal articles are the following: preprints, Diamond open access, Gold open access, hybrid/transformative open access, Green open access. The OA models considered for books are the following: Diamond open access, Gold open access, Green open access. Contributions from: Open Science Commission, Open Science Directorate; graphic design by Laura Santoro – University of Milan Translation from Italian by Carolina Manfredini and Laura Giovinazzi – University of Milan