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Hour Two: Access to Scientific Journals The U.S. government pours millions of tax dollars a year into scientific research. The results of that research usually are published in scientific journals. However, not everyone has access to these reports, and the access that does exist generally isn't free. Publishers, who produce scientific and scholarly journals sell subscriptions to research libraries and individuals, often at considerable prices. Often, the publishers hold copyright to articles submitted for publication. Although the publishers do have significant costs for their own staff of editors, page layout people, and distribution channels, they do not pay scientists for their manuscripts or the experts that conduct the essential scientific "peer review" process. The publishers control who has access to the published information, and at what price. With the advent of the Internet and easy electronic access to information, some researchers have become dissatisfied with this arrangement. They want to collect articles in open archives that anyone could search free of charge. More than 24,000 biomedical scientists have signed on to an open letter proposing a "Public Library of Science" initiative, asking publishers to make scientific reports freely available six months after publication. These scientists threaten to boycott publishers who don¹t comply, starting in September of this year. Some scientists in other areas of research, such as physics and mathematics, already store their articles on pre-print and e-print servers. This practice is tolerated by most publishers. Who should control access to the scientific literature--scientists
or publishers? Can publishers survive if they give away their product
for free? Could scientists survive without publishers? Is there common
ground? And why should you.if you're neither a scientist or a publisher.care
about this issue? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255,
and share your opinions online in our Listeners'
Lounge (registration
required)
Guests: Karen Hunter Ann Okerson Books/Articles Discussed: Related Links: This segment produced by: Julia
Karow
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