A Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (JISC, Plan S, PLOS) Release a “New Tool To Assess Equity In Scholarly Communication Models”

From a Plan S News Post:

A new online tool designed to assess the equity of scholarly communication models is launched today at the OASPA 2024 conference. The “How Equitable Is It” tool, developed by a multi-stakeholder Working Group, comprising librarians, library consortia representatives, funders and publishers, and convened by cOAlition S, Jisc and PLOS, aims to provide a framework for evaluating scholarly communication models and arrangements on the axis of equity.

The tool, which was inspired by the “How Open Is It?” framework, is targeted at institutions, library consortia, funders and publishers, i.e. the stakeholders either investing or receiving funds for publishing services. It offers users the opportunity to rate scholarly communication models and arrangements across seven criteria:

• Access to Read
• Publishing immediate Open Access
• Maximizing participation
• Re-use rights
• Pricing and fee transparency
• Promoting and encouraging open research practices: data and code
• Promoting and encouraging open research practices: preprints and open peer review

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How the tool works

Based on the above-mentioned criteria, the “How Equitable Is It” tool prompts users to consider to what extent the model (and associated funding flow) they are assessing facilitates (or restricts) equitable participation in knowledge sharing. Users score each criterion on a scale from “least equitable” to “most equitable,” receiving an overall equity score upon completion, along with a summary of their responses. A detailed description of the criteria and their definitions is available at: Framework_criteria_definitions.pdf

Feedback sought

The current release of the “How Equitable Is It?” tool is a beta version, open for comments and improvement. Stakeholders in the academic publishing ecosystem are encouraged to test the tool and provide feedback until the 28th October 2024 via the form https://coalitions.typeform.com/Equity-Feedback to help refine the criteria and increase its utility. The Working Group will review all input and publish a revised version in early 2025.

Learn More, Read the Complete Post 

Direct to “New How Equitable is It” Tool (Beta Version): 

Filed under: Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Data Files, Funding, Libraries, News, Open Access, Patrons and Users, PLOS, Publishing