SOCIETAS: Studies of Community Service and Sustainable Communities is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal committed to providing unrestricted access to scholarly knowledge. The journal believes that making research freely available to the public supports the global exchange of knowledge, academic collaboration, and the advancement of community service and sustainable community development.

1. Open Access Statement

SOCIETAS provides immediate open access to its published content based on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Readers can access, read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and link to the full texts of published articles without financial, legal, or technical barriers, subject to the applicable copyright and licensing terms.

2. Access and Availability

All articles published in SOCIETAS are accessible online without subscription fees or payment. Readers do not need to register or create an account to access published articles. The journal aims to ensure that scholarly publications remain available to researchers, academics, practitioners, students, community organizations, policymakers, and the general public.

3. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright of their work, while granting SOCIETAS the rights necessary to publish and disseminate the article, according to the journal's publication agreement. The terms governing reuse, distribution, and adaptation of published articles are specified in the license displayed on each article.

Readers and other users must comply with the applicable license conditions and provide appropriate attribution to the original authors and source when reusing published material.

4. Author Self-Archiving

Authors may share or deposit their published articles in institutional repositories, personal websites, or other academic platforms, subject to the copyright and licensing terms applicable to the article. Authors are encouraged to include the complete bibliographic information and a link to the published version on the SOCIETAS website.

5. Article Processing Charges

Any fees related to manuscript submission or publication, if applicable, are stated transparently on the journal's Article Processing Charges (APC) page. Access to published articles is not restricted by payment from readers or subscribers.

6. Long-Term Access and Preservation

SOCIETAS is committed to maintaining the accessibility and integrity of its published content. The journal seeks to preserve its scholarly records and support continued access through appropriate digital preservation and archiving practices.

7. Commitment to Open Knowledge

Through its open-access policy, SOCIETAS seeks to encourage the dissemination of research findings, strengthen collaboration between academia and communities, and support the development of inclusive and sustainable communities. The journal is committed to promoting equitable access to scholarly information while respecting authors' rights and publication ethics.