Open Access Publication & ACM

ACM's Transition to Full Open Access: A New Era for Computing Research

For more than seven decades, ACM has played a pivotal role in advancing computing research, fostering collaboration, and disseminating knowledge through its world-class Digital Library, influential publications, and premier conferences.

In a significant step to broadening access to computing research, ACM is transitioning to a fully Open Access (OA) publishing model by the end of 2025. This bold move marks a pivotal moment in making all ACM research content freely available and removing barriers to discovery and innovation.

ACM's journey towards open access has been a carefully considered, phased approach, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its publications program and the various educational, diversity, public policy, and community recognition initiatives it supports.

The move to Open Access is not just a change in policy, but a reflection of ACM's commitment to its community, where the goal is to remove barriers to publishing and accessing vital research, and accelerating the pace of discovery and innovation.

ACM’s approach to open access is centered on 2 key elements:

1. ACM Open – A Sustainable Open Access Framework for Institutions

ACM Open is a unique and innovative take on the Read & Publish model, offering institutions a seamless way to support Open Access publishing. Pricing is based on an institution’s publishing output, averaged over the previous three years, and remains fixed for the duration of the agreement. This approach ensures predictability in budgeting while providing unlimited Open Access publishing and full read access to ACM content.

Key Benefits of ACM Open:

• Unlimited Open Access Publishing
  Corresponding authors from participating institutions can publish an unlimited number of Open Access articles without Article Processing Charges (APCs).
• Fair and Predictable Pricing
  ACM Open’s fixed term annual price, based on an institution’s historical publishing activity, ensures transparency and budget stability. This pricing model helps institutions manage costs effectively while supporting Open Access publishing. 
• Premium Digital Library Access
  Institutions subscribing to ACM Open receive full access to the Premium version of the ACM Digital Library, providing their users with unrestricted access to over 800,000 ACM published research articles, the ACM Guide to Computing Literature (which indexes more than 6,500 3rd party publishers with direct links to the content), advanced tools, and exclusive features.

2. ACM Digital Library – A Tailored Approach to Access and Engagement

ACM is introducing Premium and Basic access options for the ACM Digital Library in January 2026, supporting a sustainable approach to Open Access. Institutions that subscribe to ACM Open will automatically receive full Premium access. A stand-alone Digital Library Premium subscription will also be available, providing continued access to critical resources and tools that support world-class computing research.

The Premium ACM Digital Library Experience

Premium access enables institutions to fully leverage ACM content, providing deeper insights, seamless workflows, and richer collaboration opportunities for their users. Premium features include:

• Access to the ACM Guide to Computing Literature, expanding research beyond ACM content for a broader view of computing research.
• Advanced research tools, including AI-assisted search, bulk downloads, and citation management, to streamline discovery and workflow.
• Comprehensive research insights, including article usage metrics, citation trends, and Altmetric tracking to measure research impact.

• Premium access enables institutions to fully leverage ACM content, providing deeper insights, seamless workflows, and richer collaboration opportunities for their users. Institutions that subscribe to Digital Library Premium access gain powerful tools to enhance research workflows, discovery, and collaboration. Premium features include:

Learn more about ACM Digital Library subscription options.

Institutions already participating in ACM Open can be found here.

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