Open Access Monitoring

in the context of the Open Access Strategy of Brandenburg

The Open Access Strategy of the State of Brandenburg (in German) explicitly takes a position on the monitoring of the Open Access transformation. Specifically, the document states:

“In order to follow up on the effectiveness and sustainability of developed processes and infrastructures, the openness of the publication structure, and the achievement of strategic goals, and to support the overarching strategy process for the openness in science, research, and culture made possible and promoted by the digital transformation, monitoring of the strategic measures will be implemented. One result of the monitoring can also be the identification of the need for further measures.” (p. 18)

This results in a requirement that gives the classic OA monitoring a concrete focus. The aim is not only to determine how the volume of OA publications develops over time, in this case with a focus on the state of Brandenburg. It has also to be taken into account how this development is taking place in connection with the other measures described in the strategy (strategic monitoring).

The development of the Brandenburg OA Monitoring is deliberately integrative. Here, OA is not an event that can only be observed from the outside. The strategy itself, Open Access Brandenburg, and in particular the Publication Fund for Open Access Monographs already directly influence the OA transformation.

Accordingly, OA monitoring primarily serves the purpose of self-awareness and self-assurance as well as monitoring the success of the measures described in the strategy. In addition, it makes it possible to adjust the strategy if necessary and to take into account new aspects that may not have been visible at the time the strategy was adopted or that arise as a result of the OA measures in the state.

Publication Measurement

Measuring the volume of publications forms the data baseline to be taken into account for Brandenburg OA Monitoring. On the one hand, Open Access Brandenburg will work with data from the Open Access Monitor (OAM) project. For journal publications, comprehensive data are available via this channel. On the other hand, Open Access Brandenburg will cooperate with the libraries of the state’s universities. This makes it possible, for example, to compare data, which additionally increases the quality of the data basis. In addition, other facets of OA monitoring are to be taken into account through cooperation with the institutions. These include both OA monographs and secondary publications made availably on the so-called green road.

Activity Measurement

In addition to the pure publication volume, further measures in the area of Open Access and, in perspective, also in the overall complex of Open Science / Open Research should be recorded. In addition, we would like to explicitly strengthen Open Access bibliodiversity. This includes aspects such as signing the Berlin Declaration, the existence of institutional open access policies, and activities and services for Open Access and Open Research. The weighting of licensing aspects will also be included in the monitoring. The special consideration of OA in evaluation and tenure procedures suggested in the OA strategy (cf. p. 14) will also be included wherever possible. Here, too, close cooperation with the universities plays a decisive role.

Further development will also take into account OA activities in other Brandenburg contexts, such as the Open GLAM sector, i.e. museums, archives, galleries and public libraries. Open Access Brandenburg is closely connected with actors from this field via the network for Openness in Science, Research & Culture Brandenburg.

Methodical Development

It follows from this integrative understanding of OA that the methodological approach must extend beyond the established procedures of bibliometrics and cost control. The work package of Open Access Brandenburg on OA Monitoring therefore strives for a so-called “mixed methods” approach in an agile procedure. Naturally, standards will be taken into account where they exist. The procedure is documented in the spirit of maximum openness and therefore in the spirit of “Open Methodology”.

Materials (in German)

Contact and Exchange

Open Access Brandenburg is happy to enter into dialogue with all interested parties and in particular with stakeholders in the state of Brandenburg and experts from the OA community. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to network with us.

Contact person for Open Access Monitoring is Heike Stadler.