About

University of Leeds Open Books

We are a Library-led Diamond Open Access publishing service based at the University of Leeds Libraries, committed to advancing equitable access to knowledge. Our mission is to support the creation, publication, and dissemination of high-quality open books that are freely available to everyone – knowledge for all.

By adopting a Diamond Open Access model, we ensure that neither authors nor readers face financial barriers, fostering inclusivity and enabling the global exchange of knowledge.

We maintain high standards while embracing an approach distinct from commercial publishers. Forcing a square peg into a round hole won’t work – our vision depends on doing things differently.

Our authors have the freedom to shape their work while we maintain consistency in styling and formatting. Rather than imposing rigid house styles, we allow authors to choose their own formatting preferences. We prioritise accessibility, high-quality original/third-party/adapted multimedia, and interactive elements, fostering both creativity and flexibility. You won’t find generic stock images or one-size-fits-all templates here.

Our books still undergo all the essential parts of mainstream publishing – peer review, copy editing, and proofreading. While many publishers outsource these processes, we take a different approach. We rely on the expertise and dedication of our authors, Open Education Libraries staff, learning technologists  and student and academic volunteers, who contribute across several stages of book production.  Quality is upheld from within – through the hard work and commitment of our academic, professional and student communities both inside and beyond the University of Leeds. 

We believe that repurposing and adapting openly available content creates richer, more engaging books and enhances the quality of learning materials. Our books are flexible and fluid, and our publishing approach must be too.

Editorial & Advisory Board

Antonio Martinez-Arboleda, Professor of Open Education, University of Leeds 

Jane Saunders, Associate Director: Content and Discovery, University of Leeds Libraries

Kirstine McDermid, Open Education Adviser, University of Leeds Libraries 

Submissions 

The University of Leeds Open Book Publishers accepts submissions across disciplines and subject areas. At least one lead author must be from the University of Leeds.  If you would like to submit a proposal to the University of Leeds Open Books, please provide a working title along with a brief summary of your book to the Libraries Open Education Team.  University of Leeds Open Books also accepts submissions for a multi-faceted range of high-quality open educational resources that could lend themselves to book format, such as interactive guides, case studies or reflective materials which will be copyedited and proofread but shall not go through a formal peer review process. However, they may be subject to an alternative feedback-gathering process.  All processes of peer review and feedback will be acknowledged in the book. 

Support

Accepted submissions will receive training and support from the Libraries Open Education Team.

Peer Review 

The Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) emphasises transparency and ethical practices in peer review. In line with their Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, peer review involves obtaining expert evaluations of manuscripts to ensure academic rigour and relevance.

Leeds University Open Books is committed to engaging specialist experts for peer review to provide thorough and constructive feedback. Transparency will be upheld through the disclosure and management of potential conflicts of interest, with all reviewers undergoing screening to identify any such concerns. To maintain the integrity of the review process, a single-blind peer review system will be used: reviewers will have access to author details, but authors will not be informed of reviewer identities.

Authors are encouraged to suggest potential peer reviewers, allowing Leeds University Open Books to assess their suitability while also broadening the overall pool of expert reviewers. 

In adherence to COPE guidelines on confidentiality, authors will receive anonymised peer review feedback, coordinated by the Libraries’ Open Education Team. Following review, the Open Education Team will facilitate discussions with authors to determine the best course of action for revisions.

Peer reviewers will have the opportunity to be acknowledged for their contributions in the Acknowledgements section of the book’s front matter, should they choose to do so before publication. The Open Education Team will confirm acknowledgements with reviewers prior to finalising the book.

The Open Education Team will anonymise peer review reports and send them to the author/s to discuss the best course of action to work on the revisions. At least two peer reviewers per book is required. 

Peer reviewers are asked to evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

1. Overall Quality: Assess the clarity, coherence, and presentation of the work.
2. Originality: Determine the contribution the submission makes to its field of study.
3. Academic Standards: Evaluate the rigor, accuracy, and adherence to ethical educational and research practices.
4. Interdisciplinary Synthesis: For submissions claiming to integrate multiple areas, assess the success of the synthesis and its contribution to a broader understanding.

Based on their evaluation, peer reviewers will be asked to recommend one of the following options:

1. Accept: Approve the submission for immediate publication.
2. Accept with Minor Revisions: Approve the submission, contingent on the completion of minor modifications.
3. Accept with Major Revisions: Approve the submission conditionally, pending significant revisions.

Peer reviewers are requested to submit their reports within 2-3 months of receiving the submission.  At least two peer reviewers will be assigned per book. 

Post Publication Peer Review

After the peer-reviewed book is published, it will be added to the Open Textbooks Library, where open peer review and feedback are encouraged post-publication. This facilitates ongoing feedback from the wider academic community and fosters a culture of transparency and accountability in scholarly publishing, providing opportunities for authors to refine their work further, incorporating diverse perspectives and addressing any gaps or oversights which may have been missed during initial peer review.

Editing

For single-author works, editing is typically the responsibility of the author. However, for larger collaborative projects, a designated editor/s is recommended to manage consistency across contributions.

Copy editing and proofreading 

Books will be copy-edited and proof-read. Author teams are encouraged to arrange for copy editing, either by distributing chapters among co-authors or involving experienced volunteer copy editors. In some cases, primary authors may handle copy editing and proofreading themselves.

The Libraries Open Education Team will review the book for formatting, copyright and licensing, and accessibility. After copy editing, the book will be proofread by the author(s), the Open Education Adviser, or volunteer student/academic proofreader/s.

If you need help finding a copy editor or proofreader, please contact the  Libraries Open Education Team

Adaptations of existing Open Educational Resources

Unless substantially revised, the University of Leeds Open Books does not mandate formal peer review for adapted OERs, however the same rigorous copyediting and proofreading standards will be applied to the adapted content. 

Copyright & Licensing 

Intellectual Property Rights

In alignment with the University of Leeds’ Policy on Intellectual Property Rights, all publications published by the University of Leeds Open Books shall remain the copyright of the University of Leeds.

Licensing of Open Educational Resources

The University of Leeds encourages the use of Creative Commons licenses to promote the sharing, modification, and adaptation of OER. The following licenses are recommended for works published by the University of Leeds Open Books:

• CC BY (Attribution)
• CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)
• CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial)
• CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike)

The specific license for each book will be agreed upon with the author(s) before its release.

Post-Publication Updates and New Editions

• Authors are encouraged to make updates to their published works to keep them current and relevant. Updates must have the consent of all contributing authors and be approved by the Libraries Open Education Team, University of Leeds.
• The creation of new editions of original works is also encouraged to maintain their value and usability over time.

Encouraging Global Adoption and Adaptation

• The University of Leeds promotes the widespread adoption and adaptation of its open books globally to maximise impact, accessibility and reuse.
• Adaptations ensure that content can meet diverse educational needs, cultural contexts, and teaching styles. This flexibility empowers educators and learners to tailor open educational resources to meet specific requirements, fostering innovation, collaboration, and the global exchange of knowledge. 

Adapting Existing Openly Licensed Books

• Members of the University of Leeds community are encouraged to adapt existing openly licensed books.

Attribution Requirements

• Proper attribution is mandatory for all adaptations and reuse of open educational resources. Authors must:
• Provide credit to the original author(s), including their name(s), the title of the work, and a link to the original source.
• While not mandatory, it is recommended to briefly state any modifications made to the original work.

Example of Proper Attribution:

“Introduction to Economics by Jason Ganet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This work was adapted with additional examples and revised for regional context from Introduction to Economics by Sophie Woods. The original version is available at www.sophiewoods/originalwork.”

Tracking 

The Libraries Open Education Team will monitor and report on the impact of open books produced under the University of Leeds Open Books. This includes collecting and sharing metrics on the number of derivative works created from these open books and the extent of their worldwide usage. Regular checks will also be conducted to ensure that derivative works comply with licensing requirements, such as proper attribution and credit to all original authors, in alignment with the Creative Commons licenses applied to the works.

Additionally, the Open Education Team will keep authors informed about the derivative works their publications have inspired. This ensures that authors gain a clear understanding of how their contributions have influenced global educational practices and sparked further innovation. By providing these insights, the process highlights the ongoing impact and collaborative potential of open educational resources.

Preservation 

Archiving and Preservation:

• All books produced through the University of Leeds Open Books will be archived by CLOCKSS to ensure their long-term preservation and accessibility.
• URLs, images, videos and audio files etc. within the books will also be archived in the Internet Archive at the time of publication, where possible.

Link Maintenance:

• The Open Education Team will conduct quarterly checks on the links associated with the books to ensure they remain functional and accessible.

Persistent Identifiers:

• All books will be assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to provide a permanent, reliable link for referencing and citation purposes.

Metadata Preservation:

• Comprehensive metadata (e.g., author details, publication dates, licensing, subject terms, and keywords) will be captured and stored alongside the books to ensure discoverability and proper attribution in the long term.

Discoverability

The books will be added to the University of Leeds Library Search and relevant Library discovery collections, the Pressbooks Directory, the Open Textbook Library and Zenodo. 

Accessibility 

Accessibility Statement

University of Leeds Open Books is committed to ensuring that our open textbooks are accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities. We believe that education should be inclusive, and we strive to remove barriers to learning by adhering to best practices in accessibility.

Our Commitment

We aim to provide open textbooks that:

• Are available in multiple formats, including HTML, EPUB, and PDF, to support different reading preferences and assistive technologies.
• Follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards for digital accessibility.
• Include structured headings, alternative text for images, and properly formatted tables to enhance readability and navigation.
• Offer screen reader-friendly content, with clear and consistent layouts that work with text-to-speech tools.
• Use high-contrast colours and accessible font choices to improve readability.
• Ensure that multimedia content (such as videos and audio) includes captions, transcripts, and descriptive text.

Continuous Improvement

We recognise that accessibility is an ongoing effort, and we are committed to continuously improving our materials. We welcome feedback from users to help us enhance the accessibility of our open textbooks.

Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you encounter any accessibility barriers while using our textbooks or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us at: Libraries Open Education Team

Take down Policy 

Grounds for Takedown

1. A takedown request may be submitted if the material is alleged to:

• Infringe copyright or intellectual property rights.
• Breach data protection laws or disclose sensitive information.
• Contain defamatory, offensive, or harmful content.

2. Submitting a Request

Requests must be sent to the Libraries Open Education Team and include: 

• The title and link to the book.
• A description of the issue and grounds for the request.
• Supporting evidence.
• Contact details for follow-up.

3. Review Process

Upon receiving a request:

• Assessment: The Libraries Open Education Team will assess the claim and consult stakeholders as needed.
• Action: Material will be restricted temporarily during the investigation.
• Decision: A decision will be communicated within 30 working days which may include retaining, removing, or amending the material.