Guidance for authors on negotiating contracts with publishers

If you’re writing an academic book, you presumably want your students to read it. To do that, you’re going to want the UB to be able to buy it as an e-book.

When negotiating your contract, you should specifically ask your publisher about their e-book policies using the questions below.

The UB is happy to help academic staff and students to get improved access to e-books, also in order to achieve a wider range of more sustainable models.

I am the author of the article/material. Can I post it in the E-learning or on Brightspace?

That depends. Has your work been published by a publisher? Once a work has been published, the publisher usually owns part (or even all!) of the copyright and you cannot upload your publication to Brightspace without the publisher's permission.

If the work has not been published by a publisher, you hold all copyrights and can use the work as you wish, provided the source is acknowledged.

Guidance for authors on negotiating contracts with publishers

E-book policy and what can authors do?

The UB prefers to buy e-books if possible to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the texts, even when they are not on campus. However, publishers sell books to libraries differently than they sell them to you and your students.

Background: What is the problem?

We cannot purchase Kindle books.
Some books can be purchased as e-books, but are unaffordable for UBs.

Some books can be purchased as e-books, but their licenses stipulate that we do not fully own the books or that it is difficult for students to access them.
Sometimes e-books are only sold as part of larger packages.

What can you do?

Questions to ask publishers (If you're unsure about any of the answers to these questions or the questions themselves, please contact us).

Will this book be available as an e-book for libraries?
Can libraries buy it as a separate e-book or is it part of a package?
What is the licensing model for your e-books? Is the access for 1/multiple/unlimited users?
Is it a one-time fee, an annual subscription, or a credit model?
How much does the e-book cost for the library?
Through which platforms will the e-book be available? Will there be differences in pricing and licensing across platforms?
If you are contributing a chapter to a book, is it possible to upload an open access copy to your university repository?

Background info: E-books and libraries - stuck between user and publisher

Achtergrond: E-books en bibliotheken: klem tussen gebruiker en uitgever

Torenhoge kosten, beperkte toegang: de vraag naar e-books, ook voor e-textbooks (studieboeken/leerboeken), is flink gestegen, maar tegelijk stapelen de problemen voor universiteitsbibliotheken zich op.

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Last modified:

24 January 2024 4.08 p.m.

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