The DFG project openCost has been approved for a second project phase and will be funded for a further three years.
The aim of openCost is to create a technical infrastructure with which publication costs can be accessed freely via standardized interfaces and formats. This contributes to improving cost transparency at (inter)national level.
To this end, a metadata schema was developed with which publication costs can be recorded in a structured manner and exchanged via OAI-PMH. The implementation of the schema in OpenAPC enables the Electronic Journals Library (EZB) to seamlessly integrate and display cost data. The extension of the EZB also includes information on publishing and the transfer of publication costs.
Plans for the second project phase
The second project phase builds on these results: the technical infrastructure created for the free exchange of publication costs is to be further expanded. To this end, the openCost metadata format will be further developed and the automated exchange and open presentation of cost data will be optimized.
The metadata schema developed and already tested in the first project phase will be supplemented with additional publication types and cost types. A validator enables the local openCost implementation to be checked and thus facilitates subsequent use. Another focus is on the development of a generic openCost internal format that can serve as a blueprint for proprietary implementations and support institutions in local cost monitoring. In addition, the EZB will be expanded to include a contract registry. A dashboard will also enable the evaluation of aggregated cost data from various sources.
In the second project phase, a central aspect of the project work is once again the exchange with the specialist community. To this end, workshops and online events are planned, which will be announced in advance on the project website and via the mailing list.