---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 13:56:49 -0500
From: Peter Suber <peters_at_earlham.edu>
To: fos-forum_at_topica.com
Subject: SPARC Debuts "Gaining Independence" free web manual
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2002
For more information, contact:
Alison Buckholtz, 202-296-2296 x115
or <alison_at_arl.org>
<
http://www.arl.org/sparc>
SPARC DEBUTS GAINING INDEPENDENCE:
WEB RESOURCE GUIDES LAUNCH OF NONPROFIT
ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING VENTURES
Handbook Aids Universities, Societies and Independent Publishers in
Developing Start-Up Business Plans for Successful, Sustainable Electronic
Ventures
Washington, DC - SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources
Coalition) today launched Gaining Independence: A Manual for Planning the
Launch of a Nonprofit Electronic Publishing Venture. This new publication,
available on the Web free of charge at <
http://www.arl.org/sparc/GI>, is a
detailed, step-by-step guide leading readers through the creation of a
business plan for start-up and early-stage electronic publishing ventures,
including digital repositories and journals.
Gaining Independence will help universities, libraries, societies and
others conceive, plan and implement alternatives to commercially published
scholarly and scientific information. It provides background on relevant
electronic publishing models and focuses especially on areas of business
planning that may be unfamiliar to those considering new communications
initiatives. The manual includes sections on: Situational Assessment and
Strategic Response; Technology and Technical Considerations; Markets,
Marketing and Sales; Organization; Finances; and the Financial Plan and
Operating Plan. A detailed appendix links readers to pertinent resources.
"Gaining Independence delivers smart advice and solid direction to
potential publishers and entrepreneurs, whether at universities, libraries,
learned societies, consortia or independent firms," said Dr. Mike Hannant,
Publisher, The Royal Society of Chemistry. "Its focus is on real-world
concerns, with emphasis on matters that might get overlooked, such as
proof-of-concept, marketing and financing, and these areas build a
foundation for the long-term viability of new electronic ventures. Gaining
Independence guides potential publishers through a process to make sure
each new product is sustainable."
"Gaining Independence offers a practical approach to planning and
implementing competitive electronic publishing ventures," said Michael J.
Bass, Hewlett-Packard Company's External Engagement Manager for the MIT/HP
DSpace Project. "Universities, societies and other institutions which want
to create, build support for, and communicate a strategy for their
electronic journals, digital repositories and other projects will be
well-served by Gaining Independence and its emphasis on business planning
and long-term viability."
"SPARC was founded as a constructive response to market inequities in the
scholarly communication system," said Rick Johnson, SPARC Enterprise
Director. "Gaining Independence is another step toward building a system
that serves the needs of the scholarly community and facilitates effective
partnerships between scholars and their institutions or societies. Our aim
for Gaining Independence is to help make alternative scholarly initiatives
mainstream and self-sustaining by emphasizing the application of sound
business planning practices."
Gaining Independence complements Declaring Independence: A Guide to
Creating Community-Controlled Science Journals, which SPARC and the
Triangle Research Libraries Network introduced in early 2001.
Declaring Independence is available on the Web at
<
http://www.arl.org/sparc/DI> and the printed handbook is available free of
charge by emailing <pmds_at_arl.org>. Gaining Independence is also a
follow-on to Create Change: New Systems of Scholarly Communication, an
issues-based brochure and web resource available at
<
http://www.createchange.org>.
###
SPARC is a coalition of research universities and libraries supporting
increased competition in scholarly publishing. Its membership currently
numbers approximately 200 institutions and library consortia in North
America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. SPARC Europe, a regionally
focused initiative, is being launched in 2002. SPARC is also affiliated
with major library organizations in Canada, the U.K. and Ireland, Denmark,
Australia and the USA. SPARC is located on the web at
http://www.arl.org/sparc; SPARC Europe is located on the web at
http://www.sparceurope.org.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alison Buckholtz
Associate Enterprise Director
SPARC -- The Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition
21 Dupont Circle, Ste. 800, Washington, DC 20036 USA
T: 202 296 2296 x115 * F: 202 872 0884 * E: alison_at_arl.org
http://www.arl.org/sparc http://www.sparceurope.org
http://www.arl.org/sparc/DI
http://www.createchange.org
Received on Wed Apr 03 2002 - 03:46:45 BST