18 academic libraries across Scotland, through SCURL (Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries), are collaborating to develop a not-for-profit open access publishing platform that is owned and managed by the participating libraries.  The aim of the Scottish Universities Open Access Press (SUOAP) is to provide a straightforward and cost-effective OA publication route for academics across Scottish HEIs, in response to changes in funder policies and Plan S. By publishing research open access, the SUOAP aims to raise the global visibility and usage of research at Scottish HEIs, increasing the high impact of Scottish HEI research outputs across all disciplines.

In this talk, Dominique Walker, the Publishing Officer for SUOAP, will set out the background to the project, discussing how SCURL’s experience of delivering cooperative developments for Scottish HEIs provided the foundation and the framework for creating a collaborative OA press. It will also look at where the development of the Press has reached so far, with the establishment of an online platform and formation of a diverse Editorial Board constituting academics from across the 18 institutions. It will also discuss the next steps, including plans to open a call for monograph proposals.

Overall the talk aims to show how Libraries and HEIs can work together to provide open access to research, providing alternative routes for publication and delivering a mutually beneficial outcome for the sector in Scotland.