Peter, please forgive this delayed comment, but
I have only now tried the NEJM site, and for the delayed access
they not only require a user name and password, but certain additional
user information.
The user information includes name, mailing address, professsion, etc.
I consider this an obvious device to build a mailing list, not an offer of
free access. Other publications offerring this 6 month delayed access do
not ask for this sort of information.
It is of course necessary for controlled-circulation publications like
IndustryStandard, which is provided free to those who are likely to be
good customers for their advertisers, but then you get the whole thing
free, current issues included, typically in print as well. And this is
seen by all as a advertising promotion. Has NEJM descended to that level?
As Steve says
> This is certainly better than nothing, and a step in the right
> direction, but it is also far too little, and far too late
In this case, it is perhaps better called not a step, but an
obstacle. My library, like most,
does not subscribe to publications requiring this information of their
individual readers, even if they come "free".
David Goodman, Princeton University Biology Library
dgoodman_at_princeton.edu 609-258-3235
On Sun, 3 Jun 2001, Stevan Harnad wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 09:00:43 -0400
> > From: Peter Singer <peter.singer_at_utoronto.ca>
> > To: Stevan Harnad <harnad_at_coglit.ecs.soton.ac.uk>
> > Subject: NEJM
> >
> > The NEJM recently (May 31) changed its access policies. See
> > their website (www.nejm.org). I haven't seen this mentioned in the
> > forum yet.
> >
> > Peter A. Singer, MD, MPH, FRCPC
> > Sun Life Chair in Bioethics and Director,
> > University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics
> > Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto
> > Canadian Institutes of Health Research Investigator
> > Associate Editor, Canadian Medical Association Journal
> >
> > e-mail: peter.singer_at_utoronto.ca
> > website: http://www.utoronto.ca/jcb
> > fax: 416-978-1911
> > phone: 416-978-4756
> > mail: 88 College St., Toronto ON Canada M5G-1L4
>
> My reading of the NJEM's new policy
>
> http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/344/22/1710?ijkey=GOhd24UhGnM26&keytype=ref&siteid=nejm
>
> is that (like most other journals), they now have an enhanced online
> edition and website (HighWire-Press-based, in this instance) for
> subscribers. The news is that online full-texts are now available for
> free to nonsubscribers too -- but only 6 months after publication.
>
> This is certainly better than nothing, and a step in the right
> direction, but it is also far too little, and far too late (just like
> the AAAS's recently announced version of this same policy, which NEJM
> now seems to be emulating):
>
> http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/Tp/science2.htm
>
> But there is still no justification whatsoever for continuing to hold
> new refereed research findings hostage to access tolls for even a
> microsecond, let alone until they are no longer new. That is not how
> scientific progress is furthered.
....>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stevan Harnad harnad_at_cogsci.soton.ac.uk
> Professor of Cognitive Science harnad_at_princeton.edu
> Department of Electronics and phone: +44 23-80 592-582
> Computer Science fax: +44 23-80 592-865
> University of Southampton http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~harnad/
> Highfield, Southampton http://www.princeton.edu/~harnad/
> SO17 1BJ UNITED KINGDOM
>
> NOTE: A complete archive of the ongoing discussion of providing free
> access to the refereed journal literature online is available at the
> American Scientist September Forum (98 & 99 & 00 & 01):
>
> http://amsci-forum.amsci.org/archives/American-Scientist-Open-Access-Forum.html
>
> You may join the list at the site above.
>
> Discussion can be posted to:
>
> american-scientist-open-access-forum_at_amsci.org
>
>
Received on Wed Jan 03 2001 - 19:17:43 GMT