Abstract:As of May 2014, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) listed close to ten thousand fully open access, peer reviewed, scholarly journals. Most of these journals do not charge article processing charges (APCs). This article reports the results of a survey of the 2567 journals, or 26% of journals listed in DOAJ, that do have APCs based on a sample of 1432 of these journals. Results indicate a volatile sector that would make future APCs difficult to predict for budgeting purposes. DOAJ and publisher title lists often did not closely match. A number of journals were found on examination not to have APCs. A wide range of publication costs was found for every publisher type. The average (mean) APC of $964 contrasts with a mode of $0. At least 61% of publishers using APCs are commercial in nature, while many publishers are of unknown types. The vast majority of journals charging APCs (80%) were found to offer one or more variations on pricing, such as discounts for authors from mid to low income countries, differential pricing based on article type, institutional or society membership, and/or optional charges for extras such as English language editing services or fast track of articles. The complexity and volatility of this publishing landscape is discussed.
The e-book is raising fundamental questions around the dynamics and habits of reading; the role of books in the academic library; and the role of librarians in addressing new realities of reading and learning. Print and digital texts foster different styles of reading and different ways of thinking and doing research. This paper examines implications of the shift from print to digital reading and how academic libraries in particular should respond. Academic libraries should treat print and electronic books as complementary, not interchangeable, and commit themselves to maintaining hybrid collections that support the full range of learning and research styles.
This paper considers some of the major issues concerning collection management in academic libraries in a rapidly changing environment. Specifically, this paper reflects on core values, scholarly communication issues, acquisition activities, access and delivery issues, and innovation. The paper concludes with ideas for incorporating shifts in these areas into a sustainable, forward-looking approach to collection management.W hat is collection management in the digital age? Our environment is fast-paced, driven by rapid changes in information technology, emerging areas of interdisciplinary research, a profusion of new digital resources, budget constraints, changes in teaching practices and learner expectations, and shifting institutional policies and priorities. What happens to collection management in this sea of information resources and formats, access methods, and budgetary choices? This paper seeks to answer this question by exploring collection management in terms of core values, scholarly communication issues, acquisitions activities, access and delivery issues, and innovation. It concludes with reflections for charting the future of collection management.We can begin by asking what can be a valid and tenable concept of collection management. The problem is far more complicated than it was in the predigital age. Collection size and scope, as determined by holdings counts, particular strengths, and unique materials, were formerly understood in relation to institutional mission and programs. The "tonnage" model of collection building traditionally has been focused on breadth and scope of owned resources, although this is starting to change as the importance of access to leased resources is recognized. Mapping resources to an institution's collective needs was challenging but not impossible. The universe of available publications and formats was finite; with professional experience, one could connect the dots to recognize its size and scale in relation to a specific collection's desired parameters. Johnson notes that collection management was proposed as a concept in the 1980s: "It includes collection development and an expanded suite of decisions about weeding, cancelling serials, storage, and preservation." 1 While these core activities remain integral to our work, their scope has altered significantly. Selection of new material, weeding of less important items, storage off-site, and preservation in various formats are best understood in the
In the rapidly changing scholarly communications landscape, article processing charges (APCs) have emerged as a complex issue with many implications for libraries. This paper explores the role of library consortia in relation to article processing charges (APCs) based on the results of a survey of international library consortia. The issues, challenges, and risks identified by respondents are discussed, as well as some of the potential larger implications of libraries" and library consortia"s involvement in this area.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot of some major collections-related trends and issues in current academic libraries today. These include using collection development policies; demand-driven acquisition (DDA) models; big deals; using the collections budget; rationalizing legacy print collections; stewarding local digital collections; and demonstrating value. Design/methodology/approach A web survey was developed and sent to 20 academic librarians via e-mail during the summer of 2016, along with a statement on the purpose of the study. Findings The findings are as follows: the collections budget is used to fund many costs other than content (such as memberships and MARC records); most libraries are experimenting with DDA in one form or another; most libraries financially support open access investments; most libraries participate in at least one collaborative print rationalization project; and libraries have diverse methods of demonstrating value to their institutions. Research limitations/implications This was a very selective survey of North American academic libraries. Therefore, these findings are not necessarily valid on a broader scale. Practical implications Within the limitations above, the results provide librarians and others with an overview of current practices and trends related to key issues affecting collection development and management in North America. Originality/value These results are quite current and will enable academic librarians engaged in collection development and management to compare their current policies and practices with what is presented here. The results provide a current snapshot of the ways in which selected libraries are coping with transformative challenges and a rapidly changing environment.
PurposeThis paper discusses the importance of incorporating licensing issues in access policies for electronic resources in research libraries. The implications for patron understanding of basic legal issues and the role of the library in managing and acquiring these resources are investigated and discussed.Design/methodology/approachA survey of various research libraries was undertaken to examine what is provided to patrons in terms of conditions of use for electronic resources. Literature relating to the management and provision of electronic resources was examined.FindingsIt was found that few libraries provide key licensing information to their patrons. This has important consequences in terms of the patron's lack of awareness of restrictions on use, as well as the costs, complexity, and consortial involvement in acquiring these resources.Research limitations/implicationsA comprehensive international review of the trends and practices of research libraries regarding access policies and licensing issues would build upon this paper's findings.Practical implicationsLibrary patrons are not receiving adequate information about the resources they are using. If more research libraries would consider what licensing information is made available to patrons, there could be changes in patron understanding and perception of the library. This will impact the profile of the library in academia, and the changing role of librarians in collection development in the digital environment.Originality/valueThe paper will be of value to research libraries involved in the acquisition, management and delivery of electronic resources to its patrons, and to librarians involved in collection development and management.
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