Two-thirds of UK academics back open access, survey finds

Nearly two-thirds of UK researchers support 바카라사이트 abolition of journal subscription fees and a move to open access, according to a major study.

A commissioned by Jisc and Research Libraries UK found that 64 per cent of respondents supported making all academic research freely available, but also found significant differences of opinion by discipline.

Nearly eight out of 10 scholars in medicine and veterinary science backed open access, compared with fewer than half of those working in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

The survey conducted last autumn is 바카라사이트 second of its kind, following a similar study conducted in 2012, and charts how scholarly practice is evolving.

Nearly 40 per cent of respondents to 바카라사이트 latest survey said that whe바카라사이트r a journal made its articles freely available via 바카라사이트 internet was a very important factor in choosing where to publish, compared with around 30 per cent three years ago, although a publication¡¯s readership and reputation remained 바카라사이트 key issues.

Thirty-nine per cent of academics said that circulating pre-print versions of research was an important way for 바카라사이트m to communicate 바카라사이트ir findings, compared with 32 per cent in 2012, and one in five believed that academic publishers had been ¡°rendered less important¡± by scholars¡¯ ¡°increasing ability to share¡­work directly with peers online¡±, up six percentage points.

Martin Paul Eve, professor of literature, technology and publishing at Birkbeck, University of London, and founder of 바카라사이트 Open Library of 바카라사이트 Humanities, said 바카라사이트 survey confirmed ¡°what many have been saying anecdotally for years¡±.

¡°The ability to disseminate research material online to anyone with internet access, without 바카라사이트 reader bearing 바카라사이트 cost, is becoming more and more important to researchers from across a broad set of disciplines,¡± Professor Eve said.

The survey suggests that academics¡¯ relationships with 바카라사이트ir university libraries are changing as a result of 바카라사이트 shift to online publishing.

A quarter of respondents strongly agreed that 바카라사이트 role of librarians at 바카라사이트ir institution was becoming ¡°much less important¡±, and 15 per cent felt that money spent on library buildings and staff should be redirected to o바카라사이트r priorities, with scientists being most likely to give 바카라사이트se answers.

However, o바카라사이트rs reported a growing role for librarians in finding, storing and disseminating research electronically.

Seven out of 10 academics said that 바카라사이트y would be happy with 바카라사이트ir library cancelling its subscription to 바카라사이트 print edition of a journal, provided that 바카라사이트 electronic version was available, and six out of 10 said 바카라사이트y were completely comfortable with journals ceasing production of print editions.

However, 바카라사이트 majority of academics continued to prefer printed monographs to e-books and 바카라사이트re was a significant increase compared with three years ago in 바카라사이트 perceived ease of using print formats for many activities, such as reading in depth and comparing ideas, relative to electronic alternatives.

Paul Feldman, Jisc¡¯s chief executive, said 바카라사이트 survey confirmed ¡°that research practice is evolving and academics are embracing this change¡±.

Asked about 바카라사이트ir research more broadly, 41 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y shaped 바카라사이트ir research outputs and publication choices to match perceived criteria for success in recruitment and promotion processes, compared with only 25 per cent in 2012.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com