Online tool would allow researchers to compare prices of publishers’ journals
The European Science Foundation is “exploring the feasibility of procuring an online, web-based service” for comparing the prices of academic journals and other scholarly publishing services that could be used to comply with the Plan S open-access initiative.
Under Plan S, a group of funders calling themselves Coalition S will require research papers they have supported to be made openly available immediately through compliant outlets from 2021.
Working on behalf of Plan S, the ESF will aim to identify a “secure means” for publishers to upload price and service data and for “approved users”—such as researchers, funders, institutions and librarians—to make an informed decision on which services and journals are most cost effective.
Coalition S said the ESF is seeking input from “potential suppliers and other informed parties regarding the feasibility of this procurement” before it commissions a group to develop the price comparison tool. Responses to the request for information are due by 30 November.