Parliamentary inquiry into Open Access

Interlending & Document Supply

ISSN: 0264-1615

Article publication date: 1 June 2004

60

Keywords

Citation

(2004), "Parliamentary inquiry into Open Access", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 32 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilds.2004.12232bab.002

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Parliamentary inquiry into Open Access

Parliamentary inquiry into Open Access

Keywords: Document supply

The UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee is conducting an inquiry into access to scientific publications.

In the press release announcing the investigation, the Committee invites written evidence answering “What are the consequences of increasing numbers of open access journals?... Should the Government support such a trend and, if so, how?”

In announcing the inquiry, the Chairman of the Committee, Ian Gibson MP, said, “Journals are at the heart of the scientific process. Researchers, teachers and students must have easy access to scientific publications at a fair price.”

The committee will examine evidence on a range of issues including the following points: (Ed.)

What impact do publishers' current policies on pricing and provision of scientific journals, particularly “big deal schemes”, have on libraries and the teaching and research communities they serve?

What action should government, academic institutions and publishers be taking to promote a competitive market in scientific publications?

What are the consequences of increasing numbers of open-access journals, for example for the operation of the research assessment exercise and other selection processes? Should the government support such a trend and, if so, how?

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