The Publishers Association releases report detailing the potential
effect of making journals free after a six month embargo

 

Report suggests that libraries would cancel 65% of AHSS[1] and 44% of
STM[2] journal subscriptions 

 

Libraries and Publishers need to work towards a mutually attractive
publishing model 

 

The Publishers Association argues for 'Gold' Model of Open Access -

 

London, 1 June 2012 - 'The potential effect of making journals free
after a six month embargo'[3], [http://bit.ly/NoE4HB], a report
commissioned by The Publishers Association and the Association of
Learned, Professional and Society Publishers [ALPSP], found that an
across-the-board mandate might have a material effect on libraries'
subscriptions; and that the impact on publishers' revenues would be
considerable. Higher Education Institutions' libraries may be impacted
by the collapse or scaling down of academic publishing houses. The
world's most distinguished research institutions would, the report
suggests, be impacted the most, since published outputs are essential
for the work carried out by their researchers. The reports' results
indicate that STM publishers could expect to retain full subscriptions
from 56% of libraries, compared with 35% for AHSS publishers. 

 

Commenting on the findings of the report, Graham Taylor, Director of
Educational, Academic and Professional Publishing at The Publishers
Association, said: "We need a sustainable publishing model which is
mutually attractive for both publishers and libraries. The findings of
the report are testament to the fact that a six month embargo period is
too short for the 'green' model of open access. The Publishers
Association is in full support of a funded version of open access as we
hope will be recommended by the report of the Finch Committee, which is
expected to be published shortly". 

 

Audrey McCulloch, Chief Executive of The Association of Learned,
Professional and Society Publishers, said: "ALPSP is very concerned
about the effect this may have on non-profit publishers, many of whom
may not survive.  The responses in the report show that the 'green'
model of open access will reduce the number of journals and thus choice
available to academics.   Learned societies rely on income from their
publishing activities - how will this affect them and the services they
provide?  ALPSP will only support appropriately funded publishing
models, such as the current subscription model or the 'gold' open access
model". 

 

The report documents the results of a survey carried out to obtain a
significant body of information on how the acquisitions policies of
libraries might be affected by an across-the-board mandate to make
journals articles free of charge six months after publication. The
report analyses the results of responses from 210 libraries across the
world who were asked whether they would continue to subscribe to
research journals were their content freely available within six months
of publication. Libraries were asked to send separate responses for
Scientific, Technical and Medical (STM) journals and Arts, Humanities
and Social Sciences journals (AHSS). 

 

Notes to Editors

 

The Publishers Association

The Publishers Association is the leading trade organisation serving
book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK. Membership is
comprised of 117 companies from across the trade, academic and education
sectors.  Its core service is representation and lobbying, around
copyright, rights and other matters relevant to members, who represent
roughly 80% of the industry by turnover. www.publishers.org.uk
<http://www.publishers.org.uk/> 

 

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP)

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP)
is the international organization for non-profit publishers. It has a
broad and diverse membership of over 300 organizations in 37 countries
who collectively publish over half of the world's total active journals
as well as books, databases and other products. ALPSP's mission is to
connect, train and inform the scholarly and professional publishing
community and to play an active part in shaping the future of academic
and scholarly communication. 

www.alpsp.org

 

[1] Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

[2] Scientific, Technical and Medical

[3] This report has been prepared by Linda Bennett of Gold Leaf

 

Kelly Signorelli-Chaplin

Head of Communications

The Publishers Association Limited

29B Montague Street

London

WC1B 5BW

 

t: +44 20 7691 9191

f: +44 20 7691 9199

e: [log in to unmask]

w: www.publishers.org.uk

 

The Publishers Association Limited is a company limited by guarantee
incorporated in England and Wales.

Registration number 3282879; Registered Office:  6th Floor, 25
Farringdon Street, London  EC4A 4AB

 

 

 

 

 

 


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