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СÓÅÊÓƵ Press has a legacy of trailblazing innovation in Canada and North America as a university press like no other

When was created in 2007, it did something unheard of among university presses in Canada.

Instead of publishing scholarly books and journals and charging readers, sometimes hefty prices, СÓÅÊÓƵ Press opened itself to the world like no other.

"Essentially, we make material freely available to readers online from the moment of publication, and that's the big difference from traditional publishing models," says MacKinley Darlington, interim director of СÓÅÊÓƵ Press.

We are bringing the research and knowledge held at universities to anybody that wants it. This speaks to our commitment to access and opportunity.

For , we asked the СÓÅÊÓƵ Press team to explain what makes an open access press different from a traditional university press, why СÓÅÊÓƵ is a leader in the space, and whether the future really is wide open.

How does open access work?

With a traditional university press model, some publications can cost upwards of $125 because the cost to produce that work is high and the audience may be narrow, Darlington says. "The result is that only certain people can then afford it."

By making its material available for free, open access university presses help bridge the gap between the academy and public. In doing so, СÓÅÊÓƵ Press is working to reduce barriers and advance СÓÅÊÓƵ's core priorities of providing access, opportunity, and community like no other university.

"You can purchase an СÓÅÊÓƵ Press book in print or ebook format for an affordable price, but you can also read our books for free on our site or download a digital copy."

СÓÅÊÓƵ Press has an interactive reading platform that allows users to download, view, annotate, and share books and ideas among a wider community.

"СÓÅÊÓƵ was formed around the idea of bringing education to everyone, no matter a person's background or location. That's what makes СÓÅÊÓƵ like no other university," says Darlington. "СÓÅÊÓƵ Press is really an extension of that commitment."

Authors benefit from expanded reach

СÓÅÊÓƵ Press authors benefit from publishing in open access by reaching a global readership, something that traditional publishers struggle to do. That's why authors from across Canada and the globe publish with СÓÅÊÓƵ Press.

"Above all, authors want their material to be read," says Darlington, "and there is no denying that open access material has more readers."

Studies show that increased readership leads to higher citations for open access material, she adds, meaning the knowledge shared is used to inform other scholarly works, and reach an even larger audience.

Is the future open?

Questions about the viability of the traditional university press have been raised in academic circles for decades. Indeed, Darlington recognizes that "it's a very unique space" because university presses aren't designed to turn profits, but produce works for the public good.

"There are a number of really great Canadian university presses publishing work on issues that matter by scholars who deserve a platform for their ideas. From that perspective, the industry is very healthy," Darlington adds. "I think that there's space for a diversity of publishing models. and continued innovation."

The Canadian university press environment benefits from the knowledge about open-access publishing that СÓÅÊÓƵ Press has gained, just as СÓÅÊÓƵ benefits from a vibrant community of presses, she adds.

In Canada, only a handful of university presses are publishing regularly in open access. Concordia University Press launched an open access press a few years ago while the University of Calgary Press and University of Ottawa Press have embraced partial open-access models.

 expected to comed into effect in 2026 will make open access a requirement to access funding from Tri-Council research granting agencies—, and the . The revised policy will require publishing in open access peer-reviewed journals. All Canadian researchers, regardless of funding support, are being encouraged to advance the broad and open exchange of research.

"СÓÅÊÓƵ Press is well-positioned to leverage our history of innovation and commitment to open access to navigate these changes," Darlington says.

Whether the number of open university presses grows depends largely on investments from institutions. In that regard, СÓÅÊÓƵ continues to be unique among universities, she adds.

The support СÓÅÊÓƵ provides to СÓÅÊÓƵ Press truly is like no other.

"It allows us to focus our efforts on access and impact so we can best serve the interests of the public and academic community. That goes back to who we are as a university and as a university press, and what we aspire to be in the future."