Spring 2025 open access publishing workshops with the Scholarly Communication & Information Policy office

Posted on by Timothy Vollmer

A hybrid meeting setup showcasing a presentation on "Publishing Research as Open Access." The central screen displays a presenter in a white lab coat delivering a talk via Zoom, with a slide showing a padlock icon over a book labeled "Open Access." Below, a diverse group of individuals sits around a conference table with laptops and notepads. The room features bookshelves, plants, a globe on a desk, and clocks on the wall, creating a professional and collaborative atmosphere.

With the spring semester kicking off, the Library’s Scholarly Communication & Information Policy office is here to help faculty, students, and staff understand copyright and scholarly publishing with online resources, Zoom workshops, and consultations. Read on below for a quick update.

Workshops

Publish Digital Books & Open Educational Resources with Pressbooks

Date/Time: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 11:00am–12:00pm
RSVP to get the Zoom link

If you’re looking to self-publish work of any length and want an easy-to-use tool that offers a high degree of customization, allows flexibility with publishing formats (EPUB, PDF), and provides web-hosting options, Pressbooks may be great for you. Pressbooks is often the tool of choice for academics creating digital books, open textbooks, and open educational resources, since you can license your materials for reuse however you desire. Learn why and how to use Pressbooks for publishing your original books or course materials. You’ll leave the workshop with a project already under way.

How to Publish Open Access at UC Berkeley

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 11:00am–12:00pm
RSVP to get the Zoom link

Are you wondering what processes, platforms, and funding are available at UC Berkeley to publish your research open access (OA)? This workshop will provide practical guidance and walk you through all of the OA publishing options and funding sources you have on campus. We’ll explain: the difference between (and mechanisms for) self-depositing your research in the UC’s institutional repository vs. choosing publisher-provided OA; what funding is available to put toward your article or book charges if you choose a publisher-provided option; and the difference between funding coverage under the UC’s systemwide OA agreements vs. the Library’s funding program (Berkeley Research Impact Initiative). We’ll also give you practical tips and tricks to maximize your retention of rights and readership in the publishing process.

Other ways we can help you

In addition to the workshops, we’re here to help answer a variety of questions you might have on intellectual property, digital publishing, and information policy.

  • Have a question about copyright and artificial intelligence (AI) in relation to research and scholarship? Or your rights and responsibilities in using library-licensed materials for AI use? View the AI page on our website for guidance.
  • Interested in publishing your research open access? UCB Library can help defray the costs of an article processing charge (up to $2,500) or book processing charge (up to $10,000). See the Berkeley Research Impact Initiative (BRII) for more information. And explore the various UC-wide open access agreements and discounts that can help UC corresponding authors publish their scholarship open access.
  • Do you want to create an open digital textbook? Take a look at UC Berkeley’s Open Book Publishing platform (anyone with a @berkeley.edu email can sign up for a free account), and get in touch with us about our Open Educational Resources (OER) grant program.
  • Keep an eye on the Library’s events calendar for more workshops and trainings.

Want help or more information? Send us an email at schol-comm@berkeley.edu. We can provide individualized support and personal consultations, online class instruction, presentations and workshops for small or large groups & classes, and customized support and training for departments and disciplines.