21 November 2025
Boydell & Brewer has announced an integrated open access (OA) strategy built around two complementary initiatives: “Boydell Horizons”, a programme supporting early-career researchers, and “Opening the Future”, a sustainable collective funding model that empowers academic libraries. Together, these programmes represent a significant step forward in Boydell & Brewer’s mission to broaden access to high-quality scholarship in the humanities and social sciences.
Two Programmes, One Vision
Through “Boydell Horizons”, the press offers an alternative route for early-career researchers (ECRs) to publish open access monographs — without the burden of Book Processing Charges (BPCs). Member institutions commit an annual fee, under which they nominate two ECRs to receive editorial support, professional development (via webinars and workshops), and, ultimately, the opportunity to publish two OA monographs. The resulting books are made freely available online, while affordable print editions are made widely available. Earlier this month the University of Southampton became Boydell Horizon’s first customer.
Meanwhile, “Opening the Future” (OtF) enables libraries to support OA books in a way that also benefits their own collections. Under this model, libraries pay a modest, banded annual membership fee to gain DRM-free, simultaneous access to a curated backlist of Boydell & Brewer titles. After three years, members receive perpetual access. Crucially, all the membership revenue goes directly into funding newly published OA monographs, removing the need for authors to secure BPCs. This approach aligns with the COPIM “Opening the Future” model and has been recognised for its innovation.
Why This Matters
- Equitable access for authors: Boydell Horizons ensures that talented early-career scholars can publish open access without personal or grant-based financial barrier.
- Sustainable funding: Opening the Future avoids the traditional BPC-driven model by pooling library contributions in a collective, scalable way.
- Broadening readership: OA monographs are made available on Boydell’s own OA portal and through major global platforms, maximizing discoverability and impact.
- Library-friendly model: Libraries benefit through access to valuable backlist content plus contribution to future OA publishing — all without disproportionate financial risk.
- Academic rigor maintained: All books, whether OA or closed, follow the same peer-review and editorial process.
Steven Vidovic, Head of Open Research & Publication Practice, University of Southampton, said: “The University of Southampton is proud to be the inaugural partner in Boydell Horizons. This initiative aligns closely with our institutional mission to support early career researchers’ development and to champion accessible, rigorous scholarship. We eagerly anticipate the impactful contributions of our first cohort of ECR authors.”
Sharla Lair, Lead Strategist for Open Scholarship at Lyrasis said “Opening the Future offers libraries a practical and strategic way to support open book publishing. Whether joining for the first time or building on existing OA investments, participating libraries contribute to a diverse and resilient scholarly ecosystem. By helping to sustain smaller, mission-driven publishers like Boydell & Brewer, libraries uphold authors’ choice and the long-standing relationships that sustain their disciplines, strengthening both bibliodiversity and the vitality of scholarship.”
Charles Watkinson, Associate University Librarian, University of Michigan Library states: “Non-profit publishers do not have a monopoly on virtue. By committing to values such as financial transparency, perpetual access, and equitable open access for its authors, Boydell & Brewer has shown itself to be a mission-driven publisher that deserves library support. University of Michigan Library is proud to be its partner”.