Abstract:

The new information technologies provide more opportunities for implementing innovative techniques and methods for processing, storage and transfer of information resources, accessible via Internet (Trencheva, Todorova, 2013). Their rapid development in all spheres of social and cultural life, make it necessary, information resources to be more easily accessible to a wide range of customers at a convenient time and place (Eftimova, 2009). There are more and more online resources, which are free accessible for the end users, which significantly facilitates the users and corresponds to the requirements of the knowledge society. The term "Open Access" is officially accepted and begins to with the signing of the first open access initiative from Budapest. Under open access to scientific publications in general is understood free, open and free of charge access to online journals, articles, conference papers, technical reports, theses and dissertations, reports, and reprints (Swan, 2008). Open access is an initiative for the immediate and free online access to scientific results, without the limitations imposed by the copyright and agreements with publishers. The aim of this paper is to make a comparative study of the Bulgarian open access journals in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ - Directory of Open Access Journals). The paper is divided into two parts: theoretical and practicably-analytical. The theoretical part presents the basic concept of Open Access, as analyzed two main ways to publish in Open Access. In practicably-analytical is made a comparative analysis of the Bulgarian journals in the period 2003 - 2018, the quantity and quality data were collected from the site of the DOAJ and are presented in tables and graphics. Bulgarian periodical is presented and analyzed in thematic, linguistic and quantitative indication on the one hand and distribution license from another hand. In conclusion are made relevant conclusions and recommendations for the future.

Keywords:

Open Access, DOAJ, Bulgaria, Comparative Study, Bulgarian OA Journals.