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F1000 and Taylor & Francis now offer researchers an innovative way of openly publishing books. Open Plus Books fuse F1000’s open research technology and publishing process with the traditional books model, reimagining open access books.

So, what are Open Plus Books?

Open Plus Books are rapidly published, updateable, and evolving books. They sit on a dynamic, open research publishing Platform, such as F1000Research or one of the Platforms we power for our partners. An Open Plus Book is different from the standard open access book because individual chapters can be published as standalone pieces as few as 14 days after acceptance. Chapters can then be revised, updated, and extended, while additional chapters can be added to the book at any time. Moreover, when the author decides they want their book to be published formally, an Open Plus Book is then published as a print and open access book under either the Routledge or CRC Press imprint at Taylor & Francis.

How do Open Plus Books benefit researchers?

Firstly, the updateable nature of Open Plus Books mean that researchers can reflect changes in research, knowledge, policy, legislation, and standards in their work. Books do not have to be static publications – they can be dynamic and evolving publications that can be updated with developments in research, thinking, and knowledge.

Furthermore, Open Plus Book chapters have the same benefits and transparency as Research Articles published on F1000Research, including versioning, open data distribution, and an individual unique identifier (DOI). Additionally, authors can choose post-publication invited open peer review via the Open Plus Books+ option. Chapters also feature underlying data and interactive figures, enabling visualization, interaction, reanalysis, replication, and reuse. As a result, this reduces barriers to collaborative research and supports authors getting credit for their contributions to research. Plus, Open Plus Books benefit from support for code syntax highlighting, so code is fully readable in the body of the chapter.

Finally, even after the book is published as a print and open access book, the author can continue to update or add additional chapters to the Open Plus Book on the Platform using the “versioning” functionality. These updates can then be included in subsequent editions of the print and open access book.

Where did the idea for Open Plus Books come from?

Open Plus Books is the first joint initiative between F1000 and Taylor & Francis, following the acquisition of F1000 by Taylor & Francis Group in 2020. Open Plus Books broaden Taylor & Francis’s capabilities in open research and open access book publishing and enable F1000 to extend its trailblazing open research publishing offering into books.

Anna Clarkson, Editorial Director at Taylor & Francis Group, said:

“At Taylor & Francis, we are challenging thinking about open access book publishing, as well as exploring how it can work differently, and our partnership with F1000 is enabling us to do just that. We are united in our belief that researchers should have the option to not only publish and share their work rapidly and openly but also to be able to update it and add to it. Open Plus Books are shifting the boundaries of what is considered to be a book, from something that is static and rarely updated to a model that is rapid, dynamic, and can evolve over time to reflect and lead changes in research and knowledge.”

Rebecca Lawrence, Managing Director of F1000, said:

“The vision behind F1000 has always been to develop approaches to scholarly publishing that better support the needs of today in communicating new findings, regardless of the output format. We started with article-based formats, but as we expand into different disciplines, we have long been keen to apply similar thinking and benefits to other formats that better suit other scholarly communities, such as books and monographs. Our close relationship with Taylor & Francis has made it possible to partner with leaders in scholarly book publishing, such as Routledge and CRC Press, and provides an opportunity to utilize our technology to rethink the benefits that books can provide to authors and users alike.”

Open Plus Books FAQs:

1. How do I submit my research to be published as an Open Plus Book?

Authors should first fill in our Open Plus Books proposal form with their contact details and a brief outline of their book idea, and our Editorial Team will be in touch.

2. Are Open Plus Books suitable for edited volumes?

Yes! Open Plus Books are an ideal, innovative, and convenient way for authors to publish multi-authored edited volumes. This is because individual chapters can be rapidly published as and when they are ready by each author involved with the book.

3. Can I convert a previously published book or chapter to the Open Plus Book format?

Absolutely – authors can convert previously published books or chapters to the Open Plus Book format. There is space on our proposal form for authors to provide the ISBN of previously published work.

4. What other types of research output can be published as an Open Plus Book?

Conference proceedings, handbooks, and encyclopedias can all be published as an Open Plus Book, as well as authored and edited books.

5. Can Open Plus Book publishing be made available to researchers across my institution?

Yes! Open Plus Books are ideal for institutions wishing to collate their research output. If you are interested in Open Plus Books across your institution, please email: partnerships@f1000.com

Ready to start your Open Plus Books journey? Learn more or submit a proposal today.