DOAB user needs study
In the coming months DOAB will conduct research on user needs, to evaluate the users’ experiences of DOAB (as it is currently set up in its beta-version), and to identify needs and expectations with respect to (the directory of) Open Access books.
DOABlog
As part of the user needs study an open and online discussion will be hosted on the DOAB mailing list and the DOABlog from the 9th until the 22nd of July. This online discussion with publishers, scholars, and with the wider Open Access and publishing community will provide an overview of opinions and views about Open Access books, and certain issues, such quality control and peer review.
Online survey
DOAB will also conduct a more formal user needs survey in August. This survey will provide feedback about the platform as it is currently set up and help to establish user requirements for the service. The survey will also explore the sustainability of the service and the future of Open Access book production and consumption in general.
We will use this knowledge to develop guidelines and recommendations for admission to DOAB and for its further development.
DOAB Newsletter
DOAB is Launched
Press release
The Hague, April 12, 2012
Launch of the Directory of Open Access Books.
OAPEN is pleased to announce the launch of the Directory of Open Access Books (www.doabooks.org), a discovery service for peer reviewed books published under an Open Access license. DOAB provides a searchable index to the information about these books, with links to the full texts of the publications at the publisher’s website or repository.
The primary aim of DOAB is to increase discoverability of Open Access books. Academic publishers are invited to provide the metadata of their Open Access books to DOAB. These metadata will be harvestable in order to maximize dissemination, visibility and impact. At the start of the service there are just over 20 publishers participating with about 750 Open Access books and new publishers and books will be added in the next few days. Publishers who wish to participate in DOAB can find more information here. DOAB is launched in a Beta version to enable feedback from users and to further develop the service. We hope to considerably increase the number of publishers and OA books in DOAB in the coming months and thereby create a valuable resource for the scholarly community and interested public.
The Directory of Open Access Books is provided by OAPEN Foundation in cooperation with SemperTool. OAPEN Foundation is an international initiative dedicated to Open Access monograph publishing, based at the National Library in The Hague. DOAB was developed in close cooperation with Lars Bjørnshauge and Salam Baker Shanawa (director of SemperTool), who were also responsible for the development of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).
For more information, please contact Eelco Ferwerda, director of the OAPEN Foundation, e.ferwerda@oapen.org, +31(0)629565168.
DOABlog 