ACS and Syracuse University sign transformative ‘read and publish’ agreement

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2021 — The Publications Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Syracuse University (SU) are proud to announce that they are embarking on a transformative “read and publish” agreement, expanding the visibility of the university’s researchers’ scientific contributions. This commitment is a deepening of ACS’ commitment to open access publishing, a movement that it has pioneered through the launch of open access journals, open science initiatives, and the signing of read and publish agreements with hundreds of institutions in over 20 countries.

Under a transformative read and publish agreement, researchers who want or need to publish open access may do so with financial support from their institutions. All of ACS’ more than 75 journals accept open access articles, and ACS publishes 12 “pure gold” open access journals. Under this agreement, SU’s researchers will also benefit from complete access to ACS journals and Chemical & Engineering News.

“Open access publishing is expanding rapidly, and the Syracuse University Libraries are committed to finding ways to facilitate greater access to University-authored research to expand its reach and impact,” says Scott Warren, associate dean for research excellence at Syracuse University Libraries. “This read and publish agreement with ACS is the first of its kind at Syracuse and will be instrumental as the Libraries continue to develop systems that provide greater global access to research while simultaneously investigating ways to make open publishing easier for Syracuse authors. The Libraries have long subscribed to ACS content so the campus community could read that valuable literature. Now we are enabling SU authors to more readily openly publish their scholarship there, too. Furthermore, our University faculty and students have a longstanding history of active, deep and committed involvement with ACS, making this a mutually beneficial relationship for all concerned.”

“This agreement is an innovative way for Syracuse University to expand open access while continuing to serve the needs of its researchers and students,” says Steve Hansen, director of sales for the Americas, ACS Publications. “As one of the first U.S.-based institutions to embark upon a program like this, Syracuse University has shown impressive leadership.”

Open access is growing rapidly around the world and at ACS. As the publisher of the most read and most cited journals in chemistry, accounting for 17% of chemistry-related articles published and 28% of chemistry-related citations in the most recent year of available data, ACS recognizes a responsibility to lead the way toward an open access future. In addition to being a founding member of ChemRxiv and launching SciMeetings, the open access repository for scientific posters and presentations, open access publication at ACS has grown significantly over the last five years.

“Articles in ACS journals are already being read by researchers at many thousands of institutions around the world. Publishing open access gives an opportunity to expand the reach of a research article and its impact in the scientific community,” says James Milne, Ph.D., president, ACS Publications Division. “I am glad to be taking this step with Syracuse University, for the benefit of their researchers and the global chemistry community.”

Syracuse University Libraries provide expertise, information and tools for students, faculty and staff, alumni, and the community. With over 4.8 million volumes of resources accessed by millions of physical and online visits annually, the Libraries provide information services, responsive collections, knowledgeable staff, and safe and accessible physical and digital spaces that encourage intellectual exploration. In so doing, the Libraries enable the creation of new knowledge, catalyze scholarly collaboration and cultural exchange, and advance Syracuse University’s teaching, learning and research mission.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive press releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.