- LIS-Forum - ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

Opening up educational material
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 06 Apr '06

06 Apr '06

Dear Dr Bhargava: University Vice Chancellors and professors in India may consider Open Course Ware and Open Educational Resources initiatives. The Knowledge Commission may facilitate by convening a workshop/ brainstorming session. Regards. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam] ---------------------- >From Peter Suber's blog UNESCO report on OA educational resources Paul Albright, Open Educational Resources, UNESCO, undated but released April 4, 2006. The final report of a six-week forum on open educational resources (OER) convened by UNESCO in late 2005. Forum participants included 490 individuals from 90 countries. See UNESCO's press release. Excerpt from the report itself: The OER movement is breaking down barriers that have blocked access to academic content. Until recently, most electronic course content was locked up behind passwords within proprietary systems, noted the forums initial moderator, Sally Johnstone. OER represents a major step toward sharing teaching materials, methods and tools, just as academics have shared their work in scholarly papers for a long time. The result is to augment teaching resources while expanding knowledge opportunities for learners and faculty members. Throughout the forum, a forthright exchange of views stimulated thought and ideas that can advance the cause of OER. Participants stressed the importance of providing open, accessible and superior higher education content for a global community of teachers and scholars, students and lifelong learners. Whether OERs are categorized as open access or free content, they collectively promote autonomy and self-reliance within the learning community. Without the constraints of time or geography, the power of education is released to combat economic, social and cultural obstacles. Through independent, self-determined learning and open academic content, the individual is able to grow intellectually beyond previous personal, institutional or local boundaries. Other benefits range from developing valuable work skills to engaging in life-enriching, lifelong learning....The main challenge to widening access to OER lies in overcoming reticence and uncertainty within the academic community. Although participants reported a growing awareness of OER, many emphasized the need to explain and promote the institutional benefits, and to provide incentives for faculty members to become actively involved....There appears to be a growing tension between the ethical push to promote open access to knowledge and the need for university managers to maximize income from their key assets. How can OER fit into this increasingly commercial, financially and intellectually competitive framework for higher education?

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subscription of e-journals
by paidayya namburu 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Dear sir, Ours is a P.G. college running the courses in M.B.A, M.C.A. We want to subscribe the required e- journals. We need your help to clarify some doubts regarding 1. The vendors of e-journals ? 2. software and hardware required in the library ? 3.whether AICTE consider the e-journals instead of hardcoppies at the time of inspection ? 4.Is there any AICTE approved e-journals website for M.B.A. and M.C.A courses ? 5. Will they give any username and password if we can subscribe the e-journals ? 6. How can we give acess to the users in the library and the posibility of searching outside library ? Please give your suggesitions Thanking you, Yours sinceraly N.Paidayya, Librarian, Al-Ameer college of Engineering & I.T, MBA ,MCA Programme, Gudilova , Annadhapuram, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh. Pin : 531173 --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Dear sir, Ours is a P.G. college running the courses in M.B.A, M.C.A. We want to subscribe the required e- journals. We need your help to clarify some doubts regarding 1. The vendors of e-journals ? 2. software and hardware required in the library ? 3.whether AICTE consider the e-journals instead of hardcoppies at the time of inspection ? 4.Is there any AICTE approved e-journals website for M.B.A. and M.C.A courses ? 5. Will they give any username and password if we can subscribe the e-journals ? 6. How can we give acess to the users in the library and the posibility of searching outside library ? Please give your suggesitions Thanking you, Yours sinceraly N.Paidayya, Librarian, Al-Ameer college of Engineering & I.T, MBA ,MCA Programme, Gudilova , Annadhapuram, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh. Pin : 531173 Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman7/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/ev… Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

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UNESCO Temporary Recruitment
by mgsree＠iimk.ac.in 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Dear professionals: I have been asked by UNESCO Delhi Office to inform you about a 10-month temporary position under recruitment in the Communication and Information (CI) in that office. The incumbent will assist in the overall conception, planning and execution of information activities in South Asia including the promotion of access to information and the development of libraries, archives and other information centres. The remuneration will be the equivalent of US$ 700 per month tax free currently about Rs. 30,800 subject to the current exchange rate). The terms of reference are as follows: within the framework of the Information for All Programme (i) Conceptualization, development and implementation of strategies and projects in the use of communication and information technologies (ICTs) for knowledge building and development to include testing of localized solutions and applications such as Open eNRICH software and its content packaging (ii) organization of seminars, workshops and training courses in various aspects of information and development (iii) development of training materials and curricula regarding information technology, literacy and their applications (iv) networking with relevant national, regional and international agencies, NGOs, and relevant local partners in the identification and development of appropriate areas of cooperation (v) identification of possible extra-budgetary sources of funding and development of proposals to access these funds (vi) provision of regular inputs to briefings, deadlines and reports on programme implementation (vii) close follow-up of new developments and resources available in the field of information technology, literacy and their applications. Qualifications · Advanced University Degree in the field of library/information science with excellent knowledge of the internet and its applications . Working experience in the information field (preferably 3-5 years) · Excellent understanding of the issues relating to the application of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development · Updated knowledge of information policy, research methods, software applications particularly open-source, and development trends · Strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical and project management techniques · Strong technical and research skills; proposal writing; project conceptualization and development · Ability to work as a team member in an inter-cultural (and preferably multi-national) environment · Willingness to travel · Thorough mastery of English essential. For more information on UNESCO's programmes see http://unescodelhi.nic.in/ and www.unesco.org/webworld. Interested specialists should contact Ms. Jocelyne Josiah, UNESCO Adviser for Communication and Information in Asia (j.josiah(a)unesco.org) with copy to Ms. Mini Nair (m.nair(a)unesco.org) The full contact information of Ms Josiah is: Adviser in Communication and Information for Asia UNESCO New Delhi UNESCO House B-5/29- Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi 110 029. India Tel: + (91) 11 26713000 - 204/210 Fax: + (91) 11 26713001,02 With regards, Sreekumar -- Dr. M. G. Sreekumar Librarian & Head, Center for Development of Digital Libraries (CDDL) Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode IIMK Campus P.O. Kozhikode, Kerala, India-673 570 ----------------------------------------- Phone : +91 495 2809140 Fax : +91 495 2803010/11 Email : mgsree(a)iimk.ac.in Web : www.iimk.ac.in =========================================

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Vacancy for the post of Librarian
by upasana surinder saijpal 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Dear All If u know of professinals in our field who are M.L.I.Sc (NET/SET cleared)then please get back to me on this e mail id urgently. This is an opening in an academic library setup for a year in mumbai.If u need any further information, kindly get back to me at the above e mail id or call 9820095816 regards Upasana Saijpal Dear All If u know of professinals in our field who are M.L.I.Sc (NET/SET cleared)then please get back to me on this e mail id urgently. This is an opening in an academic library setup for a year in mumbai.If u need any further information, kindly get back to me at the above e mail id or call 9820095816 regards Upasana Saijpal http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigclick.cgi/www.rediff.com/signa… http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigimpress.cgi/www.rediff.com/sig…

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Electronic Check Point System ( Installation)
by Krishnamurthy M 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Dear Colleagues, Indian Statistical Institue,Bangalore Center Library has introduced the Electronic Check Point System. This allows inventory is protected by the most advanced electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) technology, designed with the realities of day- to-day business. When a " live" checkpoint target enters the sensors radio frequency detection field, a signal is interrupted, triggering an alaram that alerts to a possible lifting attempt. M.Krishnamurthy -- Dr.M.Krishnamurthy Librarian Indian Statistical Institute 8th Mile Mysore Road R.V.C.E. Post Bangalore 560059 Ph:91-80-28483002/3/4/4 Fax: 91-80-28484265

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Fw: [BOAI] decision on open access at the 8th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Curitiba, March 31
by Subbiah Arunachalam 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

----- Original Message ----- From: Donat Agosti To: 'BOAI Forum' Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 5:27 PM Subject: [BOAI] decision on open access at the 8th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Curitiba, March 31 [sorry for cross-posting with American Scientist open Access Forum] Dear colleagues COP-8, the follow-up conference of the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ended on March 31 with a decision of importance for our work. Here the excerpt: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND THE CHM: Discussions on scientific and technical cooperation and the CHM (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/4/Rev.1, 17, 17/Add.1, and 18) took place in WG-II on Thursday, 23 March, and Tuesday, 28 March. A decision was approved by WG-II on 28 March. On scientific and technical cooperation, delegates highlighted collaboration with other initiatives, with Colombia stressing repatriation of information. Canada urged parties to provide free and open access to information and, supported by the EU, suggested reference to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Brazil expressed concern about the cost implications of CHM activities, and delegates agreed to take notes of Brazil's reservation in the decision. Final Decision: In the decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/L.5), the COP adopts the annexed CHM updated strategic plan for the period 2005-2010 and the CHM work programme up to 2010. THE COP INVITES PARTIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS, AS APPROPRIATE, TO PROVIDE FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO ALL PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE PUBLIC-GOOD RESEARCH RESULTS, ASSESSMENTS, MAPS AND DATABASES ON BIODIVERSITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION It also requests parties, and invites other governments and donors, to continue providing financial and technical support to develop national and regional CHMs. The COP requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a report on progress made in the implementation of the strategic plan of the CHM and its work programme for 2005-2010, for COP-10 consideration. Donat Dr. Donat Agosti Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution Email: agosti(a)amnh.org Web: http://antbase.org Skype: agostileu CV: http://antbase.org/agosticv_2003.html Dalmaziquai 45 3005 Bern Switzerland +41-31-351 7152  ----- Original Message ----- From: mailto:agosti@amnh.org Donat Agosti To: mailto:boai-forum@ecs.soton.ac.uk 'BOAI Forum' Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 5:27 PM Subject: [BOAI] decision on open access at the 8th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Curitiba, March 31 [ sorry for cross-posting with American Scientist open Access Forum] Dear colleagues COP-8, the follow-up conference of the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ended on March 31 with a decision of importance for our work. Here the excerpt: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND THE CHM: Discussions on scientific and technical cooperation and the CHM (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/4/Rev.1, 17, 17/Add.1, and 18) took place in WG-II on Thursday, 23 March, and Tuesday, 28 March. A decision was approved by WG-II on 28 March. On scientific and technical cooperation, delegates highlighted collaboration with other initiatives, with Colombia stressing repatriation of information. Canada urged parties to provide free and open access to information and, support ed by the EU, suggested reference to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Brazil expressed concern about the cost implications of CHM activities, and delegates agreed to take notes of Brazil s reservation in the decision. Final Decision: In the decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/8/L.5), the COP adopts the annexed CHM updated strategic plan for the period 2005-2010 and the CHM work programme up to 2010. THE COP INVITES PARTIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS, AS APPROPRIATE, TO PROVIDE FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO ALL PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE PUBLIC-GOOD RESEARCH RESULTS, ASSESSMENTS, MAPS AND DATABASES ON BIODIVERSITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATION It also requests parties, and invites other governments and donors, to continue providing financial and technical support to develop national and regional CHMs . The COP requests the Executive Secretary to prepare a report on progress made in the implementation of the strategic plan of the CHM and its work programme for 2005-2010, for COP-10 consideration. Donat Dr. Donat Agosti Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History and Smithsonian Institution Email: agosti(a)amnh.org Web: http://antbase.org Skype : agostileu CV: http://antbase.org/agosticv_2003.html Dalmaziquai 45 3005 Bern Switzerland +41-31-351 7152

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India should adopt "Open course ware"
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Friends: Many universities around the world, following MIT's Open Course Ware project, are providing their course material free on the Internet. In China and Japan universities take the trouble to translate the material into Chinese and japanese. As far as I know, not a single university in India has taken to providing the course ware on the Net for people to use. Of course IGNOU broadcasts over radio and television a large number of programmes under its Gyan Vani programme. Leading universities and university teachers should come forward to make thie courses available to students (and others interested to learn) on the Net. That could be one small step in making India a knowledge society. Subbiah Arunachalam -------------------- >From MIT's Open Course Ware site 8. China Quality OCW (CNQOCW) ---------------------------------------------------------------- China Open Resources for Education (CORE), MIT OCW's Chinese language translation partner, now offers links to more than 450 China Quality OpenCourseWare (CNQOCW) courses for use and sharing in China and globally. In addition, CORE has translated 110 MIT OCW courses into Simplified Chinese, which are available at http://www.core.org.cn/OCW_CN/Global/all-courses.htm 9. Japan OCW Alliance ---------------------------------------------------------------- The leading nine universities in Japan -- Hokkaido University, Keio University, Kyoto University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, Osaka University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, and Waseda University -- have formed the Japan OCW Alliance. These six universities now offer open access to more than 100 courses, in both English and Japanese. 10. FETP OCW in Vietnam ---------------------------------------------------------------- Inspired by the MIT OCW initiative, the Fulbright School Economics Teaching Program (FETP) in Vietnam launched FETP OpenCourseWare in 2003, the first "opencourseware" project to launch after MIT OCW opened in September 2002. The Fulbright School participates with other academic institutions in Vietnam to promote the use of innovative long-distance learning activities.

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Need for mandating OA - Evidence from Australia
by arun＠mssrf.res.in 05 Apr '06

05 Apr '06

Friends: Here is additional for the need for mandating from Australia. We in India (and other developing countries) should not delay any further. We should go ahead and mandate OA for all publicly funded research. Best wishes. Subbiah Arunachalam ------------------- >From Peter Suber's blog OA mandates work better than requests Arthur Sale, Comparison of content policies for institutional repositories in Australia, First Monday, April 2006. Abstract: Seven Australian universities have established institutional repositories (containing research articles, also known as eprints) that can be analyzed for content and which were in operation during 2004 and 2005. This short paper analyses their content and shows that a requirement to deposit research output into a repository coupled with effective author support policies works in Australia and delivers high levels of content. Voluntary deposit policies do not, regardless of any author support by the university. This is consistent with international data.

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Copyright Law Amendment
by Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy 04 Apr '06

04 Apr '06

Dear Friends The Indian Copyright Act is being amended and the government is asking for views of the public. Please visit www.copyright.gov.in and follow the Link Amendment to Copyright Act to send your views. Librarians have a lot of concerns and they must be addressed now. The form needs some expertise in legal matters. I suggest that some 'active' associations like KALA, ALSD or ILA or IASLIC collect views quickly and send it to government. -- Dr P Vyasamoorthy, SENIORS (Society for Enriched Information of Relevance to Seniors), 30, Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500018 Phone 27846631

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Mandating OA
by Subbiah Arunachalam 04 Apr '06

04 Apr '06

Friends: The European Commission has just released a report that talks about guaranteeing open access to all publicly-funded research. We in India should adopt a much more progressive step and mandate instant open access for all publicly funde research, meaning that papers should be made available via open access the same day as they are published. We have already lost much time. We cannot afford to lose any more time. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam] EC recommmends OA archiving for publicly-funded research The European Commission has released its lengthy (108 pp.) and long-awaited report, Study on the Economic and Technical Evolution of the Scientific Publication Markets in Europe. (Thanks to INIST-CNRS.) The report is dated January 2006 but was not apparently released until today. The underlying inquiry was announced in June 2004. Excerpt: Aware of current public debates that reveal worries about the conditions of access and dissemination of scientific publications, the European Commission's Directorate- General for Research has commissioned a study that seeks: (i) to assess the evolution of the market for scientific publishing; and (ii) to discuss the potential desirability of Europeanlevel measures to help improve the conditions governing access to and the exchange, dissemination and archiving of scientific publications (taking into account all actors/ stakeholders of the sector)....The report considers the specificities of the market for current journal issues. In doing so, it discusses the broad facts about the market; it undertakes a quantitative analysis of journal prices; it discusses the implications of technological innovation on pricing strategies and the dynamics of entry; and it analyzes the implication of these developments in terms of competition policy. It also discusses the various alternatives for disseminating and accessing scientific publications. This includes the question of access to research results on individual web pages or in public repositories, the development of openaccess journals as well as other alternatives, such as pay-per-view, the question of the longterm preservation of electronic publications and the use of standards to ensure interoperability between systems....[M]uch of scientific activity is publicly funded: the output of research is typically not bought by journals but 'donated' by publicly-funded researchers; so are to a large extent refereeing services for the evaluation of research; and finally, journals are bought by publicly-funded researchers or, more often now, by publicly-funded libraries. It is therefore crucial for public authorities to form a view on the relative efficiency of the scientific publication process.... In view of the libraries' ongoing budgetary difficulties and of the opportunities provided by information technologies, and acknowledging the significant part of public funds involved in the scientific publishing process, a movement in favor of open access to scientific information has gained scale in the research community and research-related organizations. Declarations in favor of open access, such as Budapest Open Access Initiative and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, were signed by thousands of individuals and by major research institutions and research funding bodies around the world. These concerns about access to research results have been echoed by the civil society (e.g. at the World Summit on the Information Society) and by political bodies at national and international levels (e.g. the OECD Declaration on Access to Research Data from Public Funding). In the UK, the House of Commons (2004) recommended that public funding agencies require open access to publicly-funded research through deposit of the publications in the authors' institutional repositories. Following these declarations and recommendations, several important research funding bodies have established policies urging their funded researchers to publish in open access journals, offering to pay the publication fees if any, and/or to deposit their articles in an open access repository (e.g. the US National Institutes of Health, the UK Research Councils, the Wellcome Trust, CERN.). These policies have raised publishers and learned societies' concerns about the potential threat on their existence and activities: they fear that as articles become freely available in open archives and as search, access and retrieval facilities are enhanced by search engines and interoperability, journal subscriptions will be cancelled, thereby undermining the viability of their journals. Starting from this global economic and research-policy context, this report provides an independent analysis of the conditions regarding access and dissemination of research results, with a view to maximizing societal returns on R&D investments.... The evidence discussed in Sections 3 to 5 points however to a market where publishers do enjoy market power. This means that access can be improved significantly before one has to start worrying about threatening this reader/library-pay model. At present, immediate access can be achieved through individual web pages, through open access repositories or archives collecting e-prints deposited by their authors, and through open access journals which rely on various sources of income. In some countries, public authorities have funded large-scale projects to develop portals providing free online access to selected scholarly journals published in their countries (e.g. SciELO in Latin American countries, J-STAGE in Japan, various projects in India). As an increasing volume of research output from outside Europe becomes openly accessible, it raises the question of the visibility and accessibility, and of the subsequent potential impact, of European research as most articles by European researchers are published in subscription-based journals. In this respect, policies like those put in place by the U.S. NIH, the UK Research Councils or the Wellcome Trust - which promote open availability of research results no later than 12 months after publication - could be emulated across Europe, after discussions with the publishers. The aim could be to ensure that published European-funded research (at EU, national, or regional levels) be deposited in standardized open archives some time after publication. Recent surveys show that a majority of researchers seem willing to self-archive their articles if induced to do so by their employer or funding body....It is worth noting that, if the research funding authorities want to 'give a chance' to the author-pay model, they have to allow for a 'level-playing field' in comparison with the reader/library-pay model, that is, provide funding for publication costs and not only for library budgets....[T]here is a central role for funding bodies to define policies which will improve access and dissemination of publications, especially in terms of self-archiving requirement.... RECOMMENDATION A1. GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLICLY-FUNDED RESEARCH RESULTS SHORTLY AFTER PUBLICATION. Research funding agencies have a central role in determining researchers' publishing practices. Following the lead of the NIH and other institutions, they should promote and support the archiving of publications in open repositories, after a (possibly domain-specific) time period to be discussed with publishers. This archiving could become a condition for funding. The following actions could be taken at the European level: (i) Establish a European policy mandating published articles arising from EC-funded research to be available after a given time period in open access archives, and (ii) Explore with Member States and with European research and academic associations whether and how such policies and open repositories could be implemented. Also see the HTML splash page for the report. The EC is soliciting comments on the report; please send them to rtd-scientific-publication(a)cec.eu.int by June 1, 2006. Peter Suber's Comment. This is big. Recommedation A1 doesn't directly call for an OA mandate to publicly-funded research, but it does call for a "guarantee" of OA, asserts that OA archiving "could become a condition of funding", and proposes that a mandate is one action that "could be taken at the European level". If the authors are distinguishing a guarantee from a mandate, then I'd like to hear more about it. But "even" a guarantee would be extremely welcome. Moreover, the recommendation calls for OA "shortly after publication". I hope this report strengthens the final draft of the RCUK policy, triggers the adoption of OA policies at the national level across Europe, and increases the odds that the nascent European Research Council will mandate OA to ERC-funded research. Friends: The European Commission has just released a report that talks about guaranteeing open access to all publicly-funded research. We in India should adopt a much more progressive step and mandate instant open access for all publicly funde research, meaning that papers should be made available via open access the same day as they are published. We have already lost much time. We cannot afford to lose any more time. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam] EC recommmends OA archiving for publicly-funded research The http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm European Commission has released its lengthy (108 pp.) and long-awaited report, http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/science-society/pdf/scientific-publicati… Study on the Economic and Technical Evolution of the Scientific Publication Markets in Europe . (Thanks to http://www.inist.fr/openaccess/ INIST-CNRS .) The report is dated January 2006 but was not apparently released until today. The underlying inquiry was http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/research/press/2004/pr1506en.cfm announced in June 2004. Excerpt: Aware of current public debates that reveal worries about the conditions of access and dissemination of scientific publications, the European Commissions Directorate- General for Research has commissioned a study that seeks: (i) to assess the evolution of the market for scientific publishing; and (ii) to discuss the potential desirability of Europeanlevel measures to help improve the conditions governing access to and the exchange, dissemination and archiving of scientific publications (taking into account all actors/ stakeholders of the sector)....The report considers the specificities of the market for current journal issues. In doing so, it discusses the broad facts about the market; it undertakes a quantitative analysis of journal prices; it discusses the implications of technological innovation on pricing strategies and the dynamics of entry; and it analyzes the implication of these developments in terms of competition policy. It also discusses the various alternatives for disseminating and accessing scientific publications. This includes the question of access to research results on individual web pages or in public repositories, the development of openaccess journals as well as other alternatives, such as pay-per-view, the question of the longterm preservation of electronic publications and the use of standards to ensure interoperability between systems....[M]uch of scientific activity is publicly funded: the output of research is typically not bought by journals but donated by publicly-funded researchers; so are to a large extent refereeing services for the evaluation of research; and finally, journals are bought by publicly-funded researchers or, more often now, by publicly-funded libraries. It is therefore crucial for public authorities to form a view on the relative efficiency of the scientific publication process.... In view of the libraries ongoing budgetary difficulties and of the opportunities provided by information technologies, and acknowledging the significant part of public funds involved in the scientific publishing process, a movement in favor of open access to scientific information has gained scale in the research community and research-related organizations. Declarations in favor of open access, such as Budapest Open Access Initiative and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, were signed by thousands of individuals and by major research institutions and research funding bodies around the world. These concerns about access to research results have been echoed by the civil society (e.g. at the World Summit on the Information Society) and by political bodies at national and international levels (e.g. the OECD Declaration on Access to Research Data from Public Funding). In the UK, the House of Commons (2004) recommended that public funding agencies require open access to publicly-funded research through deposit of the publications in the authors institutional repositories. Following these declarations and recommendations, several important research funding bodies have established policies urging their funded researchers to publish in open access journals, offering to pay the publication fees if any, and/or to deposit their articles in an open access repository (e.g. the US National Institutes of Health, the UK Research Councils, the Wellcome Trust, CERN). These policies have raised publishers and learned societies concerns about the potential threat on their existence and activities: they fear that as articles become freely available in open archives and as search, access and retrieval facilities are enhanced by search engines and interoperability, journal subscriptions will be cancelled, thereby undermining the viability of their journals. Starting from this global economic and research-policy context, this report provides an independent analysis of the conditions regarding access and dissemination of research results, with a view to maximizing societal returns on R&D investments.... The evidence discussed in Sections 3 to 5 points however to a market where publishers do enjoy market power. This means that access can be improved significantly before one has to start worrying about threatening this reader/library-pay model. At present, immediate access can be achieved through individual web pages, through open access repositories or archives collecting e-prints deposited by their authors, and through open access journals which rely on various sources of income. In some countries, public authorities have funded large-scale projects to develop portals providing free online access to selected scholarly journals published in their countries (e.g. SciELO in Latin American countries, J-STAGE in Japan, various projects in India). As an increasing volume of research output from outside Europe becomes openly accessible, it raises the question of the visibility and accessibility, and of the subsequent potential impact, of European research as most articles by European researchers are published in subscription-based journals. In this respect, policies like those put in place by the U.S. NIH, the UK Research Councils or the Wellcome Trust which promote open availability of research results no later than 12 months after publication could be emulated across Europe, after discussions with the publishers. The aim could be to ensure that published European-funded research (at EU, national, or regional levels) be deposited in standardized open archives some time after publication. Recent surveys show that a majority of researchers seem willing to self-archive their articles if induced to do so by their employer or funding body....It is worth noting that, if the research funding authorities want to give a chance to the author-pay model, they have to allow for a level-playing field in comparison with the reader/library-pay model, that is, provide funding for publication costs and not only for library budgets....[T]here is a central role for funding bodies to define policies which will improve access and dissemination of publications, especially in terms of self-archiving requirement.... RECOMMENDATION A1. GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLICLY-FUNDED RESEARCH RESULTS SHORTLY AFTER PUBLICATION. Research funding agencies have a central role in determining researchers publishing practices. Following the lead of the NIH and other institutions, they should promote and support the archiving of publications in open repositories, after a (possibly domain-specific) time period to be discussed with publishers. This archiving could become a condition for funding. The following actions could be taken at the European level: (i) Establish a European policy mandating published articles arising from EC-funded research to be available after a given time period in open access archives, and (ii) Explore with Member States and with European research and academic associations whether and how such policies and open repositories could be implemented. Also see the HTML http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/414&forma… splash page for the report. The EC is soliciting comments on the report; please send them to mailto:rtd-scientific-publication@cec.eu.int rtd-scientific-publication(a)cec.eu.int by June 1, 2006. Peter Suber's Comment . This is big. Recommedation A1 doesn't directly call for an OA mandate to publicly-funded research, but it does call for a "guarantee" of OA, asserts that OA archiving "could become a condition of funding", and proposes that a mandate is one action that "could be taken at the European level". If the authors are distinguishing a guarantee from a mandate, then I'd like to hear more about it. But "even" a guarantee would be extremely welcome. Moreover, the recommendation calls for OA "shortly after publication". I hope this report strengthens the final draft of the RCUK policy, triggers the adoption of OA policies at the national level across Europe, and increases the odds that the nascent European Research Council will mandate OA to ERC-funded research.

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