A key challenge in scholarly communication today is the increasing concern about ________ in the academic publishing industry, particularly regarding access costs and the "pay wall" model.

The Correct answer is Sustainability​.

Key Points

• A key challenge is indeed the concern about the sustainability of the "paywall" model and the increasing access costs.
• It concerns how long such models can continue while ensuring equitable access to research, maintaining publishers' financial viability, and supporting the continued growth and dissemination of academic knowledge.

Additional Information

• A paywall is a mechanism in mobile apps that restricts access to certain features or content unless users make a payment through a subscription or one-time purchase.
• It provides a way to monetize the app and generate revenue, particularly by safeguarding premium content for paying users.

Types of paywalls:

• Hard Paywall
• Soft Paywall
• Freemium Model
• Metered Paywall
• Dynamic Paywall

Scholarly communication:

• ​Scholarly communication, as defined by ACRL in 2003, encompasses the entire process of creating, evaluating, disseminating, and preserving research and scholarly writings.
• This system includes formal avenues like publication in peer-reviewed journals, as well as informal channels such as electronic listservs.
• The lifecycle of scholarly communication outlines the stages involved in the generation, publication, distribution, and discovery of scholarly research, with various stakeholders like researchers, funders, peer reviewers, publishers, and libraries playing key roles.