Many reputable, high-ranking journals offer the open access option but the author must pay an article processing charge (APC). Be aware that there are open access journals that do not adhere to the standards for scholarly and research publications. These journals– known as predatory journals – also charge APCs. In other words, the APC is no indication of a journal’s quality and respectability.

For information on how to identify a predatory journal, visit the library guide Writing and Publishing: Resources for Researchers and Scholars.