News Release
- The Ice Thaws: Blackwell journals available once again in Norway -
Oxford, March 27th 2007 - Blackwell Publishing and the four Norwegian university libraries of Bergen, Oslo, Tromsų and Trondheim are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement to renew the libraries' subscriptions to Blackwell journals and the Blackwell journal collections.
Agreement was reached after a meeting in March in Oslo between representatives of the libraries and Blackwell. The new three-year license provides the libraries, scholars and students with online access and archival rights to more than 770 journals across the sciences, medicine, social sciences and humanities. Many journals move their publishing arrangements to Blackwell each year - more than 30 in 2007 - and the new agreement gives the libraries flexibility in determining which of these transferring journals to add to their license.
Steven Hall, Journal Sales and Marketing Director of Blackwell Publishing, said: "I am delighted that we were able to resolve this matter and restore access to Blackwell journals for Norwegian researchers. We had a very open and constructive meeting in Oslo and were able to explore in detail the concerns of the libraries and explain the background to Blackwell's policies." He added that a key issue for academic libraries in Norway is the 25% rate of VAT on online subscriptions; as there is no VAT in Norway on printed subscriptions this imposes a very substantial increase in costs on libraries wishing to make the move to online-only subscriptions. "We can understand that this level of taxation on electronic journals is an enormous additional burden on Norwegian libraries," he said, adding that there is little that Blackwell and other publishers can do to mitigate its effects, beyond joining with others in lobbying efforts to bring VAT on electronic publications down to the same level as VAT on printed publications.
Professor Helge Salvesen, Library Director, University of Tromsų Library, said: "We are happy to have come to terms on a new license agreement - specially on behalf of all our users who have had to manage without the information from Blackwell Synergy." He added that, "It was very useful to meet and exchange views. Both parties were quite eager to find a solution and therefore willing to compromise. From the libraries' point of view the new license agreement is acceptable, even though the Norwegian VAT rate makes it rather expensive for us."
- About Blackwell Publishing -
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore, Denmark, Germany, and Japan and officially merged with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s Scientific, Technical, and Medical business in February 2007. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning, disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice. For more information on Blackwell Publishing, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com or http://www.blackwell-synergy.com.
- About the Norwegian University Libraries -
The four Norwegian university libraries (in Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim and Tromsų) are serving all together approximately 10,000 researchers and staff in addition to a large number of students. Online access to electronic resources is a very important part of the libraries' service to their users.
- Media Contact -
Emily Gillingham
Blackwell Publishing
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Tel: +44 (0)1865 476425
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