Re: Library Link discussion (fwd)

Subject: Re: Library Link discussion (fwd)
Tony Barry (tonyb@dynamite.com.au)
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 20:28:40 +1100

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Message-Id: <v02110102b2d09400e1da@[203.37.43.24]>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 20:28:40 +1100
To: arl-ejournal@arl.org
From: tonyb@dynamite.com.au (Tony Barry)
Subject: Re: Library Link discussion (fwd)

On 23/1/99, Anthony Watkinson <anthony.watkinson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> If patrons need particular journals in their research or teaching
> and these journals are at the top of any prioritisation by them of
> their needs, surely a librarian should subscribe to these journals,
> subject to funding.

Sure "subject to funding". But if a few highly costly journals
published by a for profit publisher making a hansome profit preclude
the purchase of a wider range of material provided by not for profit
academic societies and the for profit publisher refuses to supply
cheaper elctronic alternatives then you are in a bind.

The purpose of what we do is to support scholarly communication for the
many not provide unreasonable profits to commercial publishers.

While the library community on its own cannot create a boycott it
can provide some leadership to try and change those aspects of the
communication system where academics give away the fruits of their
work and their libraries are forced to buy it back again.

Tony

http://purl.oclc.org/NET/Tony.Barry

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