Open publishing and open publications
Open access publishing models:
1) due to rights to use:
free open access – “free and open access”, i.e. it is allowed to use resources (works) in accordance with the law on the principles of fair use
open access libre – “free and open access”, i.e. it is allowed to use it more widely than under the fair use principle, but in accordance with the provisions of the license, e.g. CC
2) according to the place of access to the full text:
the road of gold – providing open access gratis or libre by the publisher, in particular by publishing the work in a scientific journal or book;
green road – providing open access gratis or libre by the author by depositing the work in a repository
[from: Directions of development of open access to publications and research results in Poland, Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2015]
Free open access publishing:
- Open publishing programs under the Virtual Science Library license. Thanks to them, UML Employees can publish free of charge in the journals of the publishers: ACCS, Elsevier, Springer, OUP, LWW, T&F and in Science AdvancesMost open publishing programs under the WBN license will remain closed until the Ministry of Science and Higher Education awards funding for 2026 and/or concludes new agreements with publishers.
ATTENTION: Please check the current status of the program using the links below:
- Elsevier Open Publishing Program under a National License closed
- ACS Consortium Open Publishing Program closed
- Springer National Open Publishing License Program closed
- Open publishing program under the LWW license closed
- T&F Open Publishing Program. closed
- OUP Licensed Publishing Program closed
- Science Advances Open Publishing Program under a National License active
Reduced OA publishing costs for UML staff:
- Frontiers offer, in which authors receive a 7.5% discount for publication costs incurred
- Publisher of Open Access Journals (MDPI) offers, in which authors receive 15% discounts on publication costs
Selected collections of open access publications
Useful links:
- Creative Commons
- Open policy finder (formerly: SHERPA RoMEO/SHERPA Juliet) – publishers' copyrights and funders' requirements and open access
Online tools to support researchers in choosing a journal or publishing platform that is compliant with open access policies and Plan S:
- Journal Checker Tool
- Book and Journal Publisher Self-Verification Checklists: Think, check, submit
- Journal Evaluation Tool
- Diamond Discovery Hub – search engine for journals offering diamond publishing (i.e. no publication fees for authors and open access publication)
Open Research Data
The National Science Centre has introduced the obligation to attach a research data management plan to the project funding application form.
Guidelines for applicants to complete the DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN in the research project
Natalia Galica's presentation “Open data researchin the policy and practice of the National Science Centre” CC-BY License
Open Access Knowledge Base
The idea of Open Access is based on the assumption that scientific publications should be available free of charge with full copyright protection.
How Open Science works? How copyright works? What are Creative Commons licenses??
Recommendations and legal regulations:
Internal university regulations:
Openness Policy of the Polish Medical Platform, adopted by the Resolution of the Senate of the Medical University of Lublin of 24/10/2018
Rector's Order No. 62/2019 of 12/06/2019 on the collection, development and provision by the Main Library of digital versions of doctoral dissertations defended at the Medical University of Lublin, publications by employees and doctoral students of the Medical University of Lublin and research data
National and EU regulations:
European Commission Recommendations on access to and protection of scientific information (2012/417/EU)
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 1291/2013 establishing Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
Directions of development of open access to publications and research results in Poland (23.10.2015)
Plan S – the aim of which is to introduce immediate open access to scientific publications describing the results of research funded by public or private grants awarded by national, regional or international funding institutions and research councils.
Coalition S Strategy for 2026-2030 [update 12/11/2025]
NCN policy on open access to publications (31.05.2020)
Extension of the NCN's relaxed open access policy – “the rules for publishing research results announced in the letter of the NCN Director dated 11/10/2023 are extended for an indefinite period. This means that managers of all research and scientific activities will be able to use them, regardless of the deadline for submitting the final report. The relaxed provisions regarding the Open Access Policy (OA) will be in force until further notice.” for: Extension of the relaxed NCN open access policy. – Letter regarding the extension of the principles of operation of the amended provisions regarding the "National Science Centre Policy on Open Access to Publications" (hereinafter referred to as the "OA Policy") of 30 September 2024. Projects selected in the following international competitions cannot benefit from the relaxed provisions: POLONEZ BIS, competitions announced by the CHANSE, CHIST-ERA, ForestValue2 and Biodiversa+ networks, as well as in the GRIEG, IdeaLab and POLS competitions, financed by the Norwegian Funds under the Basic Research programme.
New Open Access rules at NCN [UPDATE 27/06/2025]
- Order of the Director of the National Science Centre No. 39/2025 of June 26, 2025 Open access policy for publications created in projects, internships, scholarships, scientific activities and research components. Applies to NCN competitions announced from September 2025.
- Letter from the NCN Director of June 26, 2025 Extends the new rules to projects already in progress.
Open Access FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about open access can be found at FAQ page.
