Ever since the open access (OA) publication of peer-reviewed primary research articles from CERN authors was made a policy requirement in 2014, CERN has made great strides forward in opening its research to anyone around the world. This has been achieved thanks to a variety of mechanisms implemented by the CERN Scientific Information Service (SIS), ranging from a series of Read & Publish agreements signed with major publishers to CERN’s participation in the SCOAP3 consortium, which has arranged for automatic OA to research in high-energy physics (HEP).
Books (including monographs and textbooks) have often been left out of such agreements and schemes. However, more and more monographs are now being published OA, thanks in part to historical and recent initiatives supported by CERN. The latest of these initiatives, SCOAP3 for books, has made dozens of books available in OA since its inception in 2022.
CERN’s commitment to OA for books is nothing new: CERN authors have long