Open policy finder (Prev. Sherpa services)

About open policy finder and Jisc

The open policy finder is a free online tool provided by Jisc, to help researchers make decisions about making their work open access.

This tool combines the previous 'sherpa' suite of tools including information on: publishers’ conditions, funders’ conditions and funder requirements.

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Identifying your journal model in open policy finder

Funders have started differentiating between the variety of routes and models to achieve open access in their policy requirements. This means it is increasingly important to know what model the journal you wish to publish in uses: 'gold', 'green' or hybrid. You can work out which is which using the open policy finder.

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  • Go to open policy finder and type the title or ISSN of a journal (example below)
  • In the tab marked 'Journal details':
    • The heading 'DOAJ Listing' with a hyperlink is present
    • Beside the heading 'Requires APC' there is the word 'No'
  • If the journal fulfils these two requirements it is a diamond/platinum journal and will not charge fees to the author for publication.

Remember to check the licensing information under 'Publisher policy' (click on 'Published version') to ensure the journal is compliant with your funder policy.

Journal example

Title: Body, Space and Technology

ISSN: 1470-9120

  • Go to open policy finder and type the title or ISSN of a journal (example below)
  • In the tab marked 'Journal details':
    • The heading 'DOAJ Listing' with a hyperlink is present
    • Beside the heading 'Requires APC' there is the word 'Yes'
  • If the journal fulfils these two requirements it is a 'fully gold' journal that charges a fee to the author for publication.
  • You cannot publish in these journals without paying their fee or being granted a waiver.

Remember to check the licensing information under 'Publisher policy' (click on 'Published version') to ensure the journal is compliant with your funder policy.

Journal example

Title: PLoS ONE

ISSN: 1932-6203

  • Go open policy finder and type the title or ISSN of a journal (example below)
  • In the tab called 'journal details':
    • There is no heading called 'DOAJ Listing' with a hyperlink is present
  • In the section marked 'Journal policy'
    • On the 'published' option there are 'associated OA fees'
  • If the journal fulfils these two requirements it is a 'hybrid' journal that charges a fee to the author for open access publication of the individual article.
  • You can publish in these journals without paying their fee BUT the publisher will not make your article open access and it will be behind a paywall. (See below a no-cost open access 'green' option for these journals.)

Remember to check the licensing information under 'Publisher policy' (click on 'Published version') to ensure the journal is compliant with your funder policy should you choose to pay their fee.

Journal example

Title: Antiquity

ISSN: 0003-598X

The green (or 'deposit') route is available for all of the above journals:

  • If you publish in diamond/platinum journals you can deposit the published version of your work (called the 'version of record')
  • If you publish in fully gold journals you can deposit the published version of your work, but you cannot do this without paying their fee.
  • If you publish in a hybrid journal you can (except in rare circumstances) deposit the version of your work after peer review but before publisher formatting (called the 'accepted manuscript')

Note: In some cases a hybrid journal will allow the deposit of the version of record. You can check for this in Sherpa Romeo.

Checking the details of green route in a hybrid journal

  • Ensure the journal is hybrid using the checklist above

  • In the section marked 'Journal policy'

    • Click on the 'accepted version' option

    • If there is an accepted version available expand the card.

    • Check that:

      • The 'embargo' information and licence in in line with any funder requirements.

      • The 'Locations' heading should contain 'Institutional repository'.

Note: this information is important for funded authors and those subject to the REF)

  • If you have found the above you should have all the details you need to deposit with confidence

  • Remember to note the embargo period to ensure the journal is compliant with your funder policy should you choose to deposit rather than pay the journal's fee as your route to compliance.

Journal example

Title: Notes and Queries

ISSN: 0029-3970

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