We are moving Flip it Open into a new phase, by announcing our intention to flip 100 titles publishing through 2023 and beyond to open access once a set revenue threshold is met. Unlike the pilot, which was limited to a couple of subject areas, we are broadening out the program to include books from every area in which we publish, including fields within STM.

As with the pilot, we’re not forcing this on anyone, but rather asking our authors of already-contracted suitable titles if they would like to opt in. We’re working with our editors and authors now to identify the books. Our approach and message remains the same: we are being upfront about the intended flips but asking our library partners and other buyers to treat these in exactly the same way as they would any other Cambridge book. If our partners stick to their own particular preferences and buy what they would have bought anyway, we can make the flips happen. In turn they will benefit from access to other books which we have been able to flip through the program.

It’s a little over a year since we launched the pilot project, and the project has been both fascinating and a lot of fun. We’ve had an amazing response from the OA community and the authors involved in the pilot, and also a brilliant response from our library partners. It is only with their support that we can make the flips happen, and they have just been brilliant to work with.

We have learned a huge amount from the pilot, both about what is working well, and what we need to adjust. It’s been a real combination of anticipating some challenges, side-stepping others, some great affirmation and in true agile working spirit, testing, trying and iterating as we went along. Overall, our goal with this is to create a simple, scalable solution to opening up our books to the public without always having to relying on Gold funding. I think we are on course.

We’re really excited to see how the next phase of our program goes, and also sure that we will continue to learn and modify it as we go along. Also, far from being competitive about this, we hope that other publishers might adopt the model. We’re happy to discuss this with anyone who is thinking about doing something similar. In the spirit of openness, we’ll continue to report on this as we go along.

Onwards and upwards! Or more appropriately… onwards and outwards!