The Royal Society is set to make its journals open access in 2024, thanks to a new “subscribe to open” model. The plan involves libraries supporting the transition through their subscriptions. If enough libraries sign up, the society’s journals will become free to read and publish for anyone, worldwide.
Eight of its subscription titles, including Philosophical Transactions A and B, will be converted to open access. This means author fees will also be removed. The society has already made some journals open access, but this new model aims to make them freely available online.
The Royal Society’s publishing director believes the subscribe to open model will help transition more quickly and equitably, while reaching a wider audience of researchers worldwide. The plan is part of the society’s ongoing review on the future of scientific publishing, which has brought innovation to scholarly communication since its founding in 1665.
Source: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/royal-society-make-journals-open-access-next-year