Years ago, while employed as a library head, I attended a talk by a
representative of Elsevier. The statistics he cited regarding the
company's activities made an impression on me and others at the
library, since they and other publishers were just then starting to
market more and more of their journals in these huge packages. What I
recalled was that they employed very few people directly, but operated
a big business that was dependent on the efforts of large numbers of
academics working as editors and board members, as well as reviewers -
largely for free! And that all these people's employers were then
having to buy back their own employees' work at rapidly rising prices.
When I read Dave's message, I went to Elsevier's website - below are
their latest stats - it would be interesting to know how many of the
person-years required to produce their products they actually pay
their 'global community' for.
Best wishes,
Kevin McCafferty
Elsevier:
"Who we are: A global company headquartered in Amsterdam, employing
more than 7,000 people in 24 countries.
Partners: A global community of 7,000 journal editors, 70,000
editorial board members, 300,000 reviewers and 600,000 authors.
In the community: We are a founding publisher of global programs that
provide free or low-cost access to science and health information in
the developing world.
History: Elsevier's roots are in journal and book publishing, where we
have fostered the peer-review process for more than 130 years. Today
we are driving innovation by delivering authoritative content with
cutting-edge technology, allowing our customers to find the answers
they need quickly.
Products: Elsevier develops online information solutions that help
professionals achieve better outcomes. We publish around 2,000
journals and close to 20,000 books and major reference works."
Siterer Dave Sayers <[log in to unmask]>:
> Dear Comrades,
>
> The time has come to unite, and fight the overlord Elsevier and its
> distasteful practices.
>
> A new petition site http://thecostofknowledge.com/ is gathering
> names of the maligned and disgruntled malcontents of academia, who
> feel that Elsevier's misdeeds are the sort of thing up with which
> they will no longer put!
>
> Now, I know I could have just let you good people be on a Friday,
> just signed the petition myself and not pestered anyone else, but
> the protests of an absolute nobody might not be quite enough to
> bring Elsevier to execute a shuddering about turn. Collective
> action! Unity! Freedom! People's Front of Judea!
>
> Take a minute to read the petition, consider adding your name, and,
> someone out there, please, give me a job...
>
> Dave
>
>
> --
> Dr. Dave Sayers
> Honorary Research Fellow
> College of Arts & Humanities
> and Language Research Centre
> Swansea University
> [log in to unmask]
> http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers
>
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