Concurrent 5A: Freemium Access Publishing: Content is Free, Finding Revenue in the ‘Mium’
Open access risks becoming a ‘post-and-hope’ model that finds fewer readers because publishers may turn to face authors (where the money will be) and cut back on servicing readers’ (and librarians’) needs. On the other hand, toll access publishing doesn’t maximise access because it locks out many readers and, for monographs in particular, is becoming uneconomic. So is it time for a ‘third way’ in the shape of Freemium Access publishing? In this session, speakers will debate Freemium Access publishing and you’ll see the results of OECD Publishing’s attempt to create a Freemium Access publishing model. In this model, the full-text of books and journals is available free alongside a ‘mium’ value-added service (that is not dependent on selling print). Freemium Access publishing attempts to balance the needs of authors and readers and spreads the economic load across all stakeholders – but can it work?. The results may surprise you.
Moderator: Toby Green, OECD
