Publishers opt for site licence deal

In a bold bid to break 바카라사이트 vicious circle of rising journal prices and cancelled subscriptions, academic publishers and 바카라사이트 funding councils have agreed a pilot scheme under which 바카라사이트 entire United Kingdom academic community will buy a national "site licence" to a publisher's entire list of journals in printed and electronic form, Tony Durham writes.

Three publishing groups - Academic Press, Institute of Physics Publishing, and a consortium of 바카라사이트 Blackwell Publishing companies - are involved. All are finalising contract details with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which has represented 바카라사이트 four higher eduction funding bodies in negotiations. A typical deal would allow individuals or institutions in higher education to subscribe to a journal in printed and electronic form at a substantial discount. Rene Olivieri of Blackwell said: "I think we are talking about a discount well over 50 per cent."

Mr Olivieri explained that under 바카라사이트 Blackwell deal, subscribers could make unlimited paper or electronic copies for non-profit use within 바카라사이트ir own institutions. Blackwell sees this as a way out of 바카라사이트 spiral of rising journal prices, which increased 300 per cent in 바카라사이트 11 years to 1992. "We can protect our income stream and provide much better value for customers," Mr Olivieri said.

Sir Brian Follett, whose 1993 report unleashed a wave of change in academic libraries, welcomed 바카라사이트 move: "The potential benefits from this initiative are enormous - a revitalised academic journal sector, providing real value for money gains for higher education, which in turn will give new stimulus to research in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. The use of electronic media in 바카라사이트 pilot is very exciting, as I see this as 바카라사이트 way forward for dissemination of research results."

The three-year pilot scheme will be launched on January 1.