Reimagining Robin Hood: Academic Publishing as a Space for Struggle
The Open Library of Humanities (OLH) has launched a new poster that invites reflection on the current model of academic publishing and promotes open access as a fundamental principle for the dissemination of knowledge. Under the slogan “Join the fight to set knowledge free,” the initiative reinterprets the figure of Robin Hood as a symbol of redistribution in the realm of scientific communication.
The poster highlights the need to reconsider models based on subscriptions and article processing charges (APCs), which remain predominant in much of the publishing system, especially internationally. In contrast, the OLH advocates for the diamond open access model, which eliminates costs for both authors and readers and is based on institutional collaboration.
Since its creation in 2015, the OLH has promoted this approach with the support of hundreds of libraries and academic institutions, establishing a sustainable, non-profit publishing model. The initiative also highlights the role of libraries in making strategic decisions regarding investment in information resources, amid growing budgetary pressures.
The poster, designed by Nicky Borowiec and illustrated by Joaquin Pereyra, is part of a broader campaign that seeks to highlight alternatives to the dominant commercial model and foster debate about the future of scientific communication.
The poster can be downloaded in various formats from the OLH website.
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