Channel View Publications is offering OA to the back runs of seven of its journals, and its parent company, Multilingual Matters, is offering OA to the back runs of 11 more. From the press release (undated but apparently released today):
This move applies to all titles and will create a searchable archive of all issues that are available online up to and including 2003 volumes. The range of volumes that are made available will be kept under review. Print copies of back issues will continue to be available for purchase....This announcement comes amidst increasing interest and, in some cases, concern surrounding access to scientific information. Channel View Publications believe that it is vital that publishers, academics and librarians continue to search for ways that research can be made available to the widest possible audience whilst maintaining the financial viability of the publishing process. In reality, given differences in funding, this will probably mean a combination of approaches depending on the size of journal, the geographical focus and the disciplinary areas. Some journals will opt for an open access, ìauthor paysî model (assuming funding is available), whilst others will retain a more traditional subscriptions model, but with efforts being made to allow wider access. Such efforts may include open access to back issues, as with the offer above, and/or geographical open access for institutions and academics that do not have the funding to subscribe (Multilingual Matters/ Channel View Publications already offer free or reduced price subscriptions to libraries in developing countries).
Posted by
Peter Suber at 12/07/2005 05:38:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
