The Publisher’s Living Handbook for Diamond Open Access (Living Handbook) is a practical, easy-to-use guide that brings together ready references to resources to help improve journal platforms and software, and to boost the visibility, discoverability, and recognition of Diamond Open Access publishing. It is designed for all stakeholders in the publishing process- particularly journal editors, technical staff, and publishers – who seek reliable information and guidance on the technical aspects of Diamond Open Access publishing.

The Living Handbook is a service of the European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH) and a Key Exploitable Result (KER4) of the CRAFT-OA project. In its core version the living Handbook showcases the project’s main results. The Living Handbook was created with contributions from the community. It is designed to grow and evolve, and from 2026 onward, its content will be regularly updated and expanded to meet the community’s needs.

What is a “Living Handbook”?

A handbook is a reference guide that brings together clear, reliable information or instructions. To ensure accuracy and trustworthiness, its content is reviewed by experts. Calling it “living” means that the handbook is not static. Instead, it is regularly updated and improved through ongoing editing - a process often referred to as dynamic documentation. This allows the Living Handbook to stay current, relevant, and responsive to new developments.

The Living Handbook provides ready reference to openly available information and tools on technical aspects of institutional publishing. You can explore materials, search by keywords, or browse curated sections designed for specific user groups. 

Access the Living Handbook: https://handbook.edch.eu/