Open Access: Types of Open Access

Types of Open Access Journals:

Green – refers to self-archiving generally of the pre- or postprint in repositories. There are three basic version types that can be self-archived in repositories:

1. Preprints – The author's copy of article before it’s been reviewed by the publisher, or pre-reviewed
2. Postprints – The author's copy of article after it’s been reviewed and corrected, but before the publisher has formatted it for publication, or post-reviewed. Also called an accepted manuscript.
3. Publisher's version - The final version of the article that is published in the journal issue or on the journal's website.

Gold – refers to articles in fully accessible open access journals or one that are in hybrid journals, which are subscription journals with open access to individual articles usually when a fee is paid to the publisher or journal by the author, the author's organization, or the research funder.

Diamond– refers to open access journals that do not require a fee to publish; also called sponsored or platinum journals. Fees are paid by an institution, grants, philanthropy, or other sources.

Bronze– refers to journals where the license or copyright is not clear; may only be free to read.

Sources: Brock J. 'Bronze' open access supersedes green and gold. 2018 March 12. In: Nature Index [Internet]. [place unknown, Springer Nature]. 2016-. [about 2 screens]. Available from https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/bronze-open-access-supersedes-green-and-gold

Burtle L. Open access: Types of OA [Internet]. Atlanta, GA: Georgia State University; 2017 [updated 2021]. Available from https://research.library.gsu.edu/c.php?g=115588&p=754380

Harington R. Diamond open access, societies and mission. 2017 June 1. In: David Crotty, Scholarly kitchen [Internet]. [place unknown; Society for Scholarly Publishing]. 2008-. [about 2 screens]. Available from https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2017/06/01/diamond-open-access-societies-mission