Open Access Library and Information Science journals: an analysis of the adopted business models

ABSTRACT This study investigates the business models practiced by open access scientific journals in the area of Library and Information Science, indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). We did an exploratory study of the theme, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, and applying the documentary method. The data were collected in the DOAJ, retrieving the journals of Library and Information Science that are indexed in the filter "Bibliography. Library science. Information resources", followed by a visit to each journal's website to identify descriptive characteristics. Content analysis was used to evaluate and categorize the data collected. As a result, it was verified that most of the journals retrieved in the filter do not charge Article Processing Charges (APCs), and that of those that do, a considerable portion use the 'Publishing Rates' business model with discount policies and/or fee exemptions. It is concluded that this theme has different perspectives when considering the financial sustainability of a journal, with advantages and disadvantages, mainly regarding the authors of articles to be submitted in journals that use APCs.摘要 本研究针对《开放获取期刊目录》（Directory of Open Access Journals, DOAJ）收录的图书馆与情报科学领域开放获取学术期刊所采用的运营模式展开探究。本研究针对该主题开展探索性研究，结合定量与定性研究方法，并运用文献研究法。研究数据从DOAJ平台获取：首先通过“目录学·图书馆学·信息资源”筛选条件，检索该分类下的图书馆与情报科学期刊，随后逐一访问各期刊官方网站以提取其描述性特征信息。研究采用内容分析法对所收集的数据进行评估与分类。研究结果证实，该筛选条件下检索到的多数期刊不收取文章处理费（Article Processing Charges, APCs）；在收取该费用的期刊中，有相当比例采用“出版费率”运营模式，并配套折扣政策与/或费用豁免机制。研究结论表明，在考量期刊财务可持续性时，该主题存在不同视角，其优劣性主要体现在向采用文章处理费模式的期刊投稿的作者群体层面。