The Authority File Round-Up: March 2025

March's episodes offered author perspectives on the benefits of open monographs and MIT Press's Direct to Open publishing program

Posted on April 8, 2025 in Blog

Authors:

Conversations about the lifecycle of scholarly communication

As reflected in its latest impact report, the MIT Press’s Direct to Open (D2O) initiative has benefitted authors’ citation numbers and research networks since debuting in 2021. March’s series provided a behind-the-scenes look at publishing via D2O, alongside trends of the libraries taking part in the open book publishing program. From aiding English as a second language (ESL) speakers to broadening research—and teaching—in traditionally siloed fields, our speakers walked through several advantages open publishing can provide. We hope you find the episodes informative and engaging.

March’s Series

Last month’s TAF series featured MIT Press’s Amy Harris and MIT Press authors David Gunkel and Janaki Srinivasan to discuss open book publishing and the MIT Press’s Direct to Open (D2O) program. Amy delved into the background, development, and future of D2O, while Janaki and David shared their reasons for publishing open and the benefits that came with the decision. The guests also explored how open publishing underpins citation diversity, reaching global audiences, and promoting an author’s latest research. Brought to you by MIT Press.

Listen to the episodes:

What’s Coming Up in April

In April’s series, Dr. Cheryl Thompson chats about her latest book, Canada and the Blackface Atlantic: Performing Slavery, Conflict, and Freedom, 1812-1897. Looking at US minstrelsy in the 19th century, the title traces the origins of blackface in Canada and its intersections with railroad, entertainment, and theater infrastructures. In addition, Cheryl shares how a rise of blackface in Canada (and its increased media attention) 15 years ago spurred her interest in this research area, and what the extensive research process entailed. She also describes the purpose and impact of her archival project Mapping Ontario’s Black Archives (MOBA). Listen to the first episode of the series.

Missed February’s episode?

Listen here: Implications and Solutions for AI Bot Traffic on Library Websites with Rosalyn Metz

Hungry for more episodes?

Listen to the Toward Inclusive Excellence Podcast on our website, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, and Soundcloud.

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The Authority File Round-Up: March 2025

March's episodes offered author perspectives on the benefits of open monographs and MIT Press's Direct to Open publishing program

Conversations about the lifecycle of scholarly communication