Open-Access-Transformationserfahrungen von Zeitschriftenherausgeber*innen

Abstract

This article provides an insight into the experiences of editors of humanities journals during the transformation process to Open Access. As part of the Open Library of Humanities project (OLHDE) at the University of Konstanz, a survey was conducted using semi-structured expert interviews with fifteen editors who have switched their journal from a subscription to an open access model. The editors were asked about the open access models they had chosen and their reasons for this, as well as about problems they had encountered during the transition, what help or advice they had got and what kind of support they would have preferred. The results show that models involving costs for authors are not acceptable for editors. Also, leaving the print version behind after the switchover was mostly not perceived as such a great loss as initially feared. The move to a new publication soft- ware and new layouts was judged as the most labour-intensive part of the transformation process. The study also shows editors’ needs in terms of advice and support. This provides information for institutions as to how they can further improve their services for editors who need assistance based on best practice recommendations.