Knowledge equity is a core goal at the University of Michigan and part of the Press's commitment to equity, justice, and inclusion. Opening access to our high-quality scholarly books is also a way we can help advance the University's Vision 2034, especially in promoting life-changing education and democracy/civic and global engagement. 

When publishing open-access books, we aim to ensure that equitable access to readers does not come at the cost of equitable access to publishing opportunities for authors. To achieve this goal, we attempt to spread the real costs of running a book publishing program across our parent institution, investments from a worldwide community of libraries, author-side funding, and sales revenue from reader purchases of print copies. 

At the University of Michigan Press, open access (OA) is one of many ways we strive to deliver the best scholarship to the broadest possible audience. We work with every author to consider whether and how OA might raise a book’s profile, help it reach the right audience, fulfill the author’s goals, or comply with the requirements of a funder or institution.

While open access isn’t appropriate for every book, it can benefit authors, sponsoring institutions, and readers. OA extends the reach of scholarly works, promotes public engagement, and facilitates digital innovation. 

While OA has become an established approach within journal publishing, OA for academic books is an evolving field, and the paths to sustainability are still being established. As part of the publishing division of the University of Michigan Library, the University of Michigan Press has been publishing and studying OA books for over a decade. Our research, often conducted in partnership with other institutions, seeks to engage with practical challenges such as contract terms, discoverability, and sustainability so that OA works for all users: authors, researchers, students, and readers worldwide.

Click this link to read U-M Press open-access books or explore the Press's global impact here. Visit the OA Books Toolkit to learn more about the broader environment of open-access book publishing.

Explore how our OA program benefits readers, authors, and libraries by clicking the buttons below.