The News

We expect the 2024 quota for free (prepaid) open-access publishing in LWW journals to reach expiration by mid-September 2024.

Suppose your manuscript is accepted after the quota is reached. In that case, you will face new challenges in making your research open access. Here’s what you need to know and how you can continue to make your research accessible.

Consequences of reaching the quota​

Post-quota publishing costs 
LWW will still offer open-access publishing once the quota is exhausted, but our discount agreement will no longer cover the expenses. The corresponding author will receive an invoice for the Article Processing Charges (APCs), similar to other journals outside our open-access deals.

Current status 
To stay informed about the status of the quota, regularly check the information section of selected LWW journals in the Maastricht University Open Access Journal Browser.

Alternative routes to open access 

Route 1: Publish Open Access – APC

If your research project requires immediate open access for your article, consider paying the APC.

  • Publishing costs are research costs and should be covered by your research budget. Consult your project or budget manager before submitting a manuscript to an open-access journal that charges APC.
  • If your research is funded, there’s usually a budget for publishing, especially if the funder requires open access.
  • The library offers many APC discount deals, but these cover a limited number of journals and publications. Check our Open Access Journal Browser and the Publishing deals and discounts page for details.

Route 2: Delayed (Green) Open Access – publisher’s (Taverne) or author version

If your research budget doesn’t cover the APC and there are no contractual obligations regarding open-access publishing, consider the Taverne green open-access route.

  • Our LWW deal covers only hybrid journals, so you can publish your article with a subscription license (behind the paywall) and participate in the “You share, we take care” programme (Taverne).
  • The University Library will share your paywalled article (published version) with the world after six months. Before opting for this route, ensure your article meets the Taverne requirements.
  • Alternatively, self-archive the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) of a paywalled article. This usually involves an embargo period, but you typically hold the copyright and can assign a CC license to the AAM.
  • Send the AAM of your article to the Library’s Repository team, including the DOI if available. Once the publisher’s embargo period expires, the library will make the AAM available in Maastricht University | MUMC+ Research Information.

Key takeaways

  • The LWW open-access quota for 2024 is nearing its limit and is expected to be exhausted by mid-September.
  • After reaching the quota, authors will need to cover the APCs themselves.
  • Explore alternative routes like paying the APC or using delayed (green) open access methods.
  • Stay informed by checking the Maastricht University Open Access Journal Browser for quota status.
  • Contact the Maastricht University Library’s Open Access team for support and guidance.

Test your knowledge about the APC discount quota (FAQ)

What happens if my manuscript is accepted after the LWW quota is exhausted?

If your manuscript is accepted after the quota is exhausted, you must cover the Article Processing Charges (APCs) yourself to publish open access.

Discuss paying APC with your project manager or consider the Green Open Access route.

How can I check the current status of the LWW open-access quota?

You can check the quota status in the information section of each LWW journal in the Maastricht University Open Access Journal Browser.

What are APCs, and who is responsible for paying them?

APCs, or Article Processing Charges, are fees charged by publishers to make an article open access. Your research budget should cover these costs, so consult your budget responsible before submission.

If your research has external financing, and the funder requires open-access output, there should also be coverage of the publishing costs.

And, of course, the library has arranged discount deals with a selected group of publishers, so individually covering the APC to publish in the journals that are part of these deals is unnecessary.

 

What is the "You share, we take care" or Taverne programme?

The “You share, we take care” programme (Taverne) allows the University Library to share your eligible paywalled academic articles (published version) with the world after six months, ensuring public access to your research (Green Open Access).

You must opt-in for this service once and mandate that we share your articles because, by law, the creators of the work have the right to do this.

Can I self-archive my article if I can't afford the APCs?

You can self-archive the Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) of a paywalled article, usually after an embargo period. You typically hold the copyright and can assign a CC license to the AAM.

However, if you participate in the “You share, we take care” programme (Taverne), the University Library will share all your eligible paywalled academic articles (published versions) with the world after six months, ensuring public access to your research (Green Open Access). You must opt-in for this service once and mandate that we share your articles because, by law, the creators of the work have the right to do this.

If you share the published versions of your output, the only reason to share the AAM might be the CC license you can attribute to it. The author has already transferred the copyright to the publisher for the Taverne version, so they can no longer attribute a CC license.

 

Thanks for reading our posts and tips about academic publishing and Open Access. If you have questions about this post or want to discuss its content, see below for all contact options of the Scholarly Communications team at Maastricht University Library.

Ron Aardening, Scholarly Communication & Publishing.

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