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** with apologies for cross posting ** PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Latest ALPSP Scholarly Publishing Practice Survey on online journal publishing is now available The third in a series of ALPSP surveys undertaken to establish current scholarly publishing practices and designed to track changes in policy and practice since 2000, has been published by the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishing (www.alpsp.org). The survey, carried out by Laura Cox of Frontline Global Marketing Services and John Cox of John Cox Associates, was conducted of 400 journal publishers, both commercial and not-for-profit, consisting of ALPSP and other major association members. A response rate of over 65% was achieved including the majority of major journal publishers. Key findings include: . Publishers - especially large publishers and commercial publishers are launching new journals at a higher rate than in 2005. . The growth trajectory of online availability has been steady since 2003. There is still some difference between the disciplines, with 96.1% of STM and 86.5% of arts, humanities and social science titles accessible online. . Pricing models are just as complex and varied as they were in 2005. Most publishers use a variety of means to establish prices. It is notable that fewer publishers are providing online access free with print and instead are offering online-only subscriptions. . Open access advocacy has clearly had an effect on publishers' thinking. The proportion of publishers offering optional open access to authors has grown from 9% in 2005 to 30% in 2008. However, the take-up of the author pays open access option is exceedingly low. . Licensing terms have become more generous, as publishers have become more comfortable with the use of digital content, including allowing use in Virtual Learning Environments and repurposing to create learning objects. . Publishers' practice on authors' rights is changing. Fewer publishers now require authors to transfer copyright to the publisher and will instead accept a licence to publish. . The growth of institutional and subject based repositories has prompted a rethink on authors' rights to post their articles on the web. Large publishers have relaxed prohibitions on posting pre-prints, but have imposed embargoes on the final accepted version. . Publishers are at different stages of development in their implementation of Web 2.0 technologies, with 20% enabling collaborative tagging and between 10% and 15% implementing forums, blogs and podcasts for a journal. The full report provides a vast array of evidence about the current policies and practices of scholarly journal publishers, but it also shows how these practices have changed over time with comparisons with the survey results from 2003 and 2005. It will be invaluable to those who wish to dispel some of the misunderstandings that have been voiced about journal publishing and to show how publishers' policies have changed in response to advocacy groups and funding mandates. Scholarly Publishing Practice, Third Survey 2008: Academic journal publishers' policies and practices in online publishing by John Cox and Laura Cox is available to ALPSP members as a free to download PDF or may be purchased by non-members online at the ALPSP website www.alpsp.org. Contacts: ALPSP: Nick Evans, Chief Operating Officer, Tel: +44(0) 208 789 2394, Mobile: +44(0) 7793 559992, Email: [log in to unmask] Laura Cox: Frontline Global Marketing Services, Tel: +44(0) Tel: +44 (0) 1327 359298, Email: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------------------ Lesley Ogg Senior Coordinator, Events & Information Systems Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers E: [log in to unmask]; T: 01245 260571; F: 01245 260935; www.alpsp.org ALPSP is a Company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England and Wales Registration no: 4081634. Registered Office: Blenheim House, 120 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1AU, UK To unsubscribe, change your email address or to suspend your emails while you are away, send an email to [log in to unmask] Please include the name of the list, your name and organisation in your message.