A good point.
In the USA, there are at least 20 State-wide e-libraries which negotiate
on behalf of all publicly funded institutions in the State, and then
re-charge the costs pro-rata to each library's budget, so the users of
even the smallest school or public library have access (for as little as
$100 p.a.) without further charge to a wide range of on line databases.
SLIC has begun to develop something similar in Scotland, but I'm not
aware of much happening yet in England.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adrian Smith
Sent: 26 January 2004 12:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Select Committee Inquiry into Scientific Publication
I understand SCONUL and CURL are preparing written evidence, and are
prepared to give oral evidence.
I hope that CILIP will, likewise.
One concern of mine, which the Committee does not seem to address, is
the access to research literature by the interested layman/woman, and
broadcasters etc.
How does pricing, and the move to online access, affect journalists and
the general public? A recent article on the extinction of a million
species made headlines, but it was published in "Nature". Another, on
toxins in farmed salmon, was probably in "Science". Articles on MMR and
autism appear in medical journals.
It is important that access to these continues in the online age,
through public libraries and not just research libraries, if we believe
that an informed electorate is required to underpin our democracy ...
Adrian Smith
Headingley
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