MSU Libraries is first U.S. institution to sign a Read and Publish agreement with global healthcare knowledge provider BMJ

Thursday, March 09, 2023 by: Elise Jajuga

EAST LANSING, Mich., March 2023 – Michigan State University Libraries has recently become the first U.S. institution to enter into a Read and Publish agreement with leading global healthcare knowledge provider BMJ. 

This exclusive agreement allows corresponding authors who are affiliated with MSU uncapped ability to publish their primary research open access in all BMJ journals at no cost to the author. Associated open access publishing fees will be covered in full by MSU Libraries. BMJ publishes over 65 medical and allied science titles including The BMJ, BMJ Case Reports, the BMJ Premier Collection journals and the BMJ gold open access journals. This agreement also allows all MSU affiliates access to the content published in these journals.

“We are thrilled to be the first U.S. institution to sign a Read and Publish agreement with BMJ,” said Interim Dean of MSU Libraries Terri Miller. “This is an excellent opportunity to expand our already robust OA program and to make meaningful connections with other institutions whose values align with those of MSU Libraries, which in this case includes increasing opportunities for authors to publish open access to advance accessibility and inclusion in knowledge-sharing.”

MSU Libraries Head of Collections Strategies Susan Kendall expressed enthusiasm about the contract in the context of MSU Libraries’ values. “This agreement with BMJ is an important one for health sciences. We believe that, by providing unlimited open access publishing in all BMJ journals, we provide opportunities for the work of MSU’s researchers and healthcare professionals to have the greatest impact for the widest community possible, which fits well with our mission to ‘advance knowledge and transform lives.’”

The MSU Libraries has been actively expanding its support for open access publishing in various ways since 2020. This agreement with BMJ joins a growing list of Read and Publish agreements with journal publishers, including Cambridge University Press, DeGruyter, Wiley, PLOS, IOP, Royal Society Publishing, Company of Biologists and more.

BMJ Publishing Director Allison Lang also touched on how the agreement aligns with goals important to both institutions. “As a pioneer and champion of open access, BMJ continually looks for new ways to support the research community through our Read and Publish agreements. We will continue to provide access to quality, trusted healthcare information and support open access publishing. This agreement is another step forward in further transitioning research to open access to make it widely visible and accessible to support improvements in policy and practice. Additionally, we are delighted to partner with MSU, with whom we share the goal of supporting the scientific community to help create a healthier world.”

As a global healthcare knowledge provider, BMJ publishes one of the world’s top five most cited general medical journals, The BMJ, and over 65 specialty journals. BMJ is a pioneer and champion of open access. They support and promote a future built on the principle of unrestricted access to medical research outputs, which encourages proper scientific discourse and debate and, in turn, facilitates further medical advances.

The MSU Libraries are at the center of academic life at Michigan State University, providing expertise, collections, and infrastructure for discovery and creation. The Libraries facilitate connections that support research, teaching, and learning in our local and global communities. The Libraries also promote equal access to information and spaces for all and lead meaningful initiatives in accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion.