Path to Open Community Advisory Committee

A forum for exchange among scholars, publishers, and libraries
Purple and pink gradient background with white text Path to Open Community Advisory Committee Guiding the Development of a New Open Access Book Publishing Model

 

Path to Open is a multiyear community-based pilot hosted by JSTOR that tests a new funding model for open access monographs. It aims to make one thousand scholarly books—across humanistic disciplines and from a diverse group of university presses—freely available to readers.

The Path to Open Community Advisory Committee includes representatives from publishing, library, and author communities. Supported by ACLS, the committee provides guidance to JSTOR in further developing Path to Open as a model for open access book publication that centers bibliodiversity, equity, sustainability, and transparency.

Formed with guidance from the Educopia Institute, the Community Advisory Committee provides an important forum for dialogue and problem-solving to benefit all participants in the open access book ecosystem. Committee members will advise on priorities and goals for Path to Open, engage with other open access initiatives to encourage shared learning, and foster understanding among scholars and administrators about the value of this model for open access publishing. The committee welcomes input and will facilitate conversations among the wider library, publishing, and scholarly communities in the coming year.

Scholars want for their books to be read and to matter; convening this advisory committee is a key step in ensuring that various segments of the scholarly community are working together in conscientious ways to make this happen. James Shulman, ACLS Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Committee Members (2024 – 2025)

Members of the committee serve for two years, with the opportunity for two renewals. Terms are staggered to ensure continuity.

  • Alison Bradley, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Partnership for Academic Library Cooperation (PALCI), 2024
  • Catherine Cocks, Director, Syracuse University Press (Communications Liaison)
  • Danielle Fosler-Lussier, Professor of Music, The Ohio State University 
  • Kate McCready, Visiting Program, Officer, University of Minnesota Libraries and Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA)
  • Holly Mercer, Sr. Associate Dean and Professor, University of Tennessee Libraries (Co-chair)
  • Tony Sanfilippo, Director, The Ohio State University Press
  • John Sherer, Spangler Family Director, University of North Carolina Press 
  • Sarah McKee, American Council of Learned Societies (Co-chair)

Committee Charge

The Path to Open Community Advisory Committee supports the longevity, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Path to Open pilot initiative. It comprises representative community members who provide feedback, recommendations, and insight as well as outreach and community-building support for the pilot.

Stewarded by ACLS, responsibilities of the committee include: 

  • Advising ACLS and JSTOR in areas related to the Path to Open initiative. These may include recommendations and direction around criteria for title selection, outreach, eligibility for library and publisher participation, feedback review, metrics gathering, program assessment, and development of transparent guidelines. 
  • Representing perspectives of Path to Open stakeholders (which include, but are not limited to, publishers, libraries, scholars, and Open Access initiatives) to support the development and sustainability of the program. 
  • Representing Path to Open by engaging and communicating with stakeholders, which may include participation in conference panels and workshops, attendance in meetings with ACLS and JSTOR staff around outreach, and outreach to potential future advisory committee members 
  • Participating in affinity working groups as needed. 

Please contact Sarah McKee ([email protected]) with questions.