About Subscribe to Open
Subscribe to Open (S2O) is a sustainable and equitable business model that offers a wide range of benefits to researchers, libraries, and the community at large. Institutional subscribers access the content through subscription, as with a regular subscription model. What is unique to the model is that once an annual subscription threshold is met, the volume year becomes available as open access. This makes the content available to all without any cost to authors.
Benefits of Subscribe to Open
In addition to guaranteed access to the volume year purchased, institutions that subscribe gain advance access to articles and an open access publish guarantee for all lead authors within the subscribing institution. Lead authors affiliated with subscribing institutions will qualify for the open access publish guarantee if their institution is a subscriber to the journal at the time of article acceptance. This benefit allows these authors to publish their articles as open access without paying an article processing charge (APC). These articles will be available as open access regardless of whether the threshold is met.
| Benefits to Libraries | Benefits to Authors | Benefits to the Community |
|---|---|---|
|
Perpetual access to purchased volume, whether or not the open access threshold is met |
Equity in opportunity to publish with no article processing charges, regardless of available research funding |
Extends access of high-quality content outside academia and across global communities |
|
Exclusive access to advance access articles, which are published within weeks of acceptance and in advance of issue publication |
Open Access Publish Guarantee for lead authors from a subscribing institution |
Equitable and fair global scholarship |
|
Open Access Publish Guarantee for lead authors from a subscribing institution; affiliated authors can publish their articles as open access without charge, whether or not the open access threshold is met |
Broad dissemination of scholarship both within and beyond the academic environment |
Promotes more inclusive and diverse authorship |
UTP welcomes support from subscribers to advance equitable global scholarship in this critical initiative. If the Subscribe to Open threshold is met by 30 June each year, that year's volume of the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy will be published open access.
Statements of Support
Congratulations to the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy (JCCPE) for adopting a more equitable, sustainable and open publishing model. The University of Toronto Libraries is committed to openness and accessibility, and we support JCCPE’s Subscribe to Open model that will both create barrier-free publishing for authors and make scholarship more broadly available.
Larry P. Alford
University Chief Librarian
University of Toronto Libraries
I couldn’t be more excited to see the University of Toronto Press adopt the Subscribe to Open model to provide equitable open access to its authors and readers. For libraries, Subscribe to Open continues to offer the simplest, mission aligned path for growing open access support.
Curtis Brundy
Associate University Librarian
Iowa State University Library
We are proud to support the Journal of City Climate Policy & Economy from the University of Toronto Press. The Subscribe to Open model is the most equitable and sustainable open access publishing model and I commend UTP for choosing it as they start this new journal.
Katherine Brooks
Collection Analysis Librarian
Columbia University Libraries
When Wayne State University learned of UTP’s Subscribe to Open model we did not hesitate to add our support to this equitable and sustainable approach to supporting open access. The Journal of City Climate Policy & Economy is one of many important resources our users have come to rely on. Thank you UTP for being a leader in this space and we look forward to continuing our support.
Mike Hawthorne
Director, Resource & Collections Strategy Services
Wayne State University Library System
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Subscribe to Open?
Subscribe to Open (S2O) is a sustainable and equitable business model that offers a wide range of benefits to researchers, libraries, and the community at large. Institutional subscribers access the content through subscription, as with a regular subscription model. What is unique to S2O is that once an annual subscription threshold is met, the volume year becomes available as open access. This makes the content available to all without any cost to authors.
Why did University of Toronto Press opt for Subscribe to Open for this journal?
In developing the business model, University of Toronto Press identified the following goals for the best business model to support JCCPE:
- Broad global dissemination of research, regardless of availability of financial resources for purchasing scholarly content
- Relatively low cost for research community (e.g., universities, colleges)
- Relatively low cost for policy community (e.g., municipalities)
- Free to read for end user (e.g., researcher, public)
- Free to publish for all authors (i.e., no APCs)
- Financial sustainability for the journal with a model that allows for growth in publication output
What are the benefits of the S2O Model?
S2O offers many benefits for libraries, authors and the community at large.
- Benefits to Libraries:
- Perpetual access to purchased volume, whether or not the open access threshold is met
- Exclusive access to advance access articles, which are published within weeks of acceptance and in advance of issue publication
- Open Access Publish Guarantee for lead authors from a subscribing institution allowing these authors to publish their articles as open access without charge, whether or not the open access threshold is met
- Benefits to Authors:
- Equity in opportunity to publish with no article processing charges, regardless of available research funding
- Open Access Publish Guarantee for lead authors from a subscribing institution
- Broad dissemination of scholarship both within and beyond the academic environment
- Benefits to the Community:
- Extends access of high-quality content outside academia and across global communities
- Equitable and fair global scholarship
- Promotes more inclusive and diverse authorship
What is the difference between Subscribe to Open and the traditional subscription model?
With the Subscribe to Open model, once an annual subscription threshold is met, the volume year becomes available as open access. This makes the content available to all without any cost to authors.
What is the difference between Subscribe to Open and other models of open access, such as transformative Publish & Read agreements?
The Subscribe to Open model is free to publish for all authors and does not rely on APCs. Unlike transformative journals, the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy was developed under an S2O model, thereby eliminating any transformative or transitional phase.
How is the annual subscription threshold set?
In order to ensure financial sustainability over time, a minimum number of subscriptions must be reached for each volume year to become open access. The threshold is reached once editorial, production, and communications costs pertaining to the journal are covered.
Can public libraries support the journal?
Absolutely! All libraries as well as other organizations are invited to participate.
How does the Open Access Publish Guarantee work?
The Open Access Publish Guarantee allows lead authors affiliated with subscribing institutions to publish their articles open access without paying an article processing charge (APC). These articles will be open access regardless of whether the S2O threshold is met. Lead authors affiliated with subscribing institutions will qualify for the open access publish guarantee if their institution is a subscriber to the journal at the time of article acceptance.
I am the lead author of my article and the article has been accepted after peer review. How do I know if my institution has subscribed to the journal?
Please contact Jessica Abraham for information about current subscribers. If you’d like to ensure that your article is published as open access, please recommend the journal to your institution.
How is the lead author determined?
University of Toronto Press relies on the definition of authorship developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Please also see the journal’s guidelines on authorship.
Contact Us
Jessica Abraham
Editorial, Design, and Production Coordinator
University of Toronto Press
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Antonia Pop
Vice President, Journals
University of Toronto Press
Toronto, Ontario, Canada