Serving Communities, Not Corporate Shareholders

OLH Executive Director Dr Caroline Edwards was recently invited to attend an event organised by the N8 Research Partnership, the collective body for eight northern research intensive universities. Held at the University of York on 12 June 2025, this event celebrated the launch of a landmark statement prepared by N8 members; the universities of Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York.

The statement was collaboratively authored by senior leaders across the N8 universities, including Library Directors, Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Research and Vice-Chancellors, and calls for a radical change to the way in which research is published and disseminated. Professor Christopher Pressler, University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library at the University of Manchester, gave opening remarks at the event calling for action to address inequity in academic publishing. As he stated:

"The future we envision is radically different. [...] This future demands more than just removing paywalls. True equity in academic publishing means addressing the structural inequalities that determine who can afford to publish, who gets cited, and whose research shapes global conversations. It means developing sustainable funding models that don’t shift financial barriers from readers to authors. It means embracing diverse forms of scholarship and innovative platforms that serve communities, not corporate shareholders."

Prof. Pressler's remarks framed a day of bold and imaginative discussion. As tense negotiations with the "big five" commercial academic publishers continue in 2025, the N8 universities are setting out their leadership role within the wider UK HE landscape. This is catalysing systemic change, as Prof. Pressler put it "one publication, one partnership, one courageous decision at a time."

At the Open Library of Humanities, we're proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with UK library directors. Working closely together on shared projects such as the Open Journals Collective, we are committed to changing the way in which academic research is published, disseminated, and funded. To do this, we must serve communities, not corporate shareholders.

Read the N8 statement here.

Learn more about the N8 Research Partnership here.