Re: Some initial thoughts on the Brussels Declaration on STM publishing

From: Dana Roth <dzrlib_at_LIBRARY.CALTECH.EDU>
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:28:23 -0800

The fact that something is possible doesn't mean it is advisable.

There is a distinct advantage in having an organizational structure that
one can depend on to maintain stability. Sure, the 'research community'
can create their own journals, but who among them is going to give up
their research and/or teaching to manage the process?

The evolution of distributing research results, from circulating letters
among peers to the formal journals we know today, occurred because of
the obvious benefits in an organizational structure.

The primary problem with the current system is the failing business
model followed by many commercial publishers.

Dana Roth
Caltech

-----Original Message-----
From: American Scientist Open Access Forum
[mailto:AMERICAN-SCIENTIST-OPEN-ACCESS-FORUM_at_LISTSERVER.SIGMAXI.ORG] On
Behalf Of Heather Morrison
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 4:21 PM
To: AMERICAN-SCIENTIST-OPEN-ACCESS-FORUM_at_LISTSERVER.SIGMAXI.ORG
Subject: Re: Some initial thoughts on the Brussels Declaration on STM publishing

On 20-Feb-07, at 5:41 AM, Peter Banks wrote:

> Yes, a few scientists can get together and create a journal using
> open source software.
>
> What they might find a bit harder, say, is managing a portfolio of
> 1000+
> journals. (The combined Blackwell-Wiley will have about 1250
> journals). That takes an investment that a handful of researchers in
> their spare time might find a little daunting. At this level, you need

> a hosting platform, a manuscript management platform, hoards of
> editors and translators, etc., and the capital and management to
> support it all.
>

Open Journal Systems is a hosting platform / manuscript management
system. It is free and open source. Since its release in 2003, OJS is
now in use by over 800 journals, around the world. No one journal needs
much in the way of start-up capital.

It is not just that a few scientists can get together and create a
journal, but rather that any research community now has the means to
easily create their own journals, and do not need to rely on publishers.
Not that the services of publishers are not of value.
There is room for quality services, at reasonable prices.

Quality services includes maximum dissemination of research. That means
open access, whether through self-archiving or OA publishing.

Heather Morrison
Received on Wed Feb 21 2007 - 22:59:18 GMT