UT Libraries is again partnering with the Office of Research and Engagement to provide funding to authors of scholarly monographs who want to make their work open access. Funding is available through TOME, Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem, a program of the Association of American Universities, Association of University Presses, and Association of Research Libraries (ARL). In the 2021 academic year, TOME funding underwrote open access publishing of two UT authors’ monographs. Their work joins nearly 100 titles currently available online — without access fees — from any of over 60 participating university presses. UT Libraries, an ARL member library, has led UT’s involvement as one of 17 research institutions participating in TOME.

With equal funding from both the Libraries and ORE, authors receive up to $15,000 to cover open access publishing charges from any TOME-participating university press. Two monographs will be selected for TOME funding in AY 2022, and two more for AY 2023. Preference is given to authors who have already been accepted by one of the participating presses, as well as to those who are pre-tenure faculty. Interested authors should complete the TOME Interest Form (tiny.utk.edu/apply_tome) by May 30.

More information about TOME, including a list of participating presses, is available at openmonographs.org.