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Open Book Collective

Open Book Collective
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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About

Launched: 2023
Record Updated: Nov 26, 2025
Open access or subscription management tool
The Open Book Collective is a charity that brings together publishers, publishing service providers, and scholarly libraries to secure the diversity and financial futures of Diamond open access book production and dissemination.
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Mission

The Open Book Collective creates a space for libraries, OA publishers, open service providers, and others to learn from, network with, and support each another.
We are delivering innovative and reliable revenue streams to small to medium-sized publishers, helping them move away from relying on book processing charges.
We also deliver new financial resources to the vital open infrastructures of OA book publishing, and making it easier to integrate OA books into library catalogues.
We support a variety of approaches to OA publishing, while making a more bibliodiverse range OA books more accessible to a wider range of authors and institutions, enhancing equity within the publishing ecosystem.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Code License

Implemented
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Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • python

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

  • MIT License

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Metadata

  • KBART
  • ONIX

Persistent Identifier

  • ORCiD
  • Research Organization Registry
Other:
DOI

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

The Open Book Collective is a UK charity governed through a community-led Association Model, which means decision-making is shared between its member publishers, libraries, and service providers rather than held solely by Trustees. Its governance rests on three bodies: the General Assembly of Custodians, representing all members; the Board of Stewards, which acts as the Trustee board and includes elected representatives from the membership alongside library funders and independent open-access experts; and the Membership Committee, which oversees applications and adherence to OBC values. The OBC is supported by major partners within the Open Book Futures project, including Lancaster University (which provides core funding), Coventry University, Open Book Publishers, punctum books, Thoth Open Metadata, and Jisc, all of whom contribute operational, technical, or strategic support to the service.

Policies

Bylaws

Implemented
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Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

Implemented
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Privacy Policy

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Web Accessibility Statement

Implemented
Applies to Website
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Governance Records

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Governance Structure & Processes

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Transparent Pricing and Cost Expectations

Implemented
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Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Multi-board governance

Board Level

The Board of Stewards acts as the Executive of the Open Book Collective, and serve as Trustees of the charity.

Community Governance

  • Formal

Additional Information

Organizational History

The Open Book Collective was borne from the COPIM project (2019-2023) and became operational 2022, before receiving ongoing support from the Copim Open Book Futures project (2023-2026).
The OBC has successfully partnered with a wide range of libraries, publishers, and service providers across the globe, and continues to expand our membership and library partnerships.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Non-profit organization

Full-time Staff

1-5

Non-profit Status

Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)

Current Affiliations

The Open Book Collective is an output of the COPIM project, and a partner on the ongoing Copim Open Book Futures project.

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Program service revenue
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