Because of the crisis
in scholarly communication, new scholarly publishing
models are being developed that overcome the increasingly
unworkable restrictions of conventional academic publishing.
These models rely upon the principle of open
access.
Conventional academic publishing restricts both the production
of scholarship (through editorial oversight) and access
to that scholarship (through copyright, subscription, and
medium of publication). Alternative publishing models attempt
to overcome these restrictions, retaining the benefits of
speed, cost, and distribution available through electronic
means while not sacrificing the necessary peer-review and
editorial oversight that guarantee scholarly quality.
Alternative Publishing Models include: