Open Access Publishing Support at UH Libraries
This post is part of a week-long series contributed by UH Libraries Research Services in recognition of International Open Access Week 2026.
Open access publishing allows research to be freely available to readers worldwide, but publication fees can sometimes present challenges. University of Houston Libraries helps support authors by providing information about publisher agreements that offer discounts or waivers for article processing charges (APCs).
IGI Global: Article Processing Charges: What They Are and Why They Exist
APCs are fees that authors may pay to publish articles as open access. Through agreements negotiated by UH Libraries, UH researchers may be eligible for reduced publishing costs with selected publishers. For example, eligible primary research articles published with the American Physiological Society (APS) may receive APC-free open access publication, while discounts are also available through BioMed Central and SpringerOpen.
These agreements help lower financial barriers that can prevent researchers from making their work openly available. Because open access articles can be read without subscription restrictions, they have the potential to reach broader audiences across academia, industry, education, and the public.
UH Libraries encourages authors to verify eligibility requirements and available discounts during the publishing process. Through these support services, UH Libraries helps researchers navigate the publishing landscape while promoting greater access to scholarship.