From: Subbiah Arunachalam
To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in, franc@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in
Friends:
IFLA has formally endorsed open access publishing:
http://www.ifla.org/V/press/oa240204.html
IFLA supports Open Access movement
PRESS RELEASE 24 February 2004 IFLA HQ The Hague, Netherlands
The IFLA Governing Board has adopted a statement on 'Open access to
Scholarly Literature and Research documentation
'
Welcoming the IFLA statement, President-elect Alex Byrne noted IFLA's long
commitment to open access to information, especially its concern for access
to scholarly literature in the developing world.
He said: "IFLA recognises that achieving affordable, global access to
scholarly information and research documentation will require a great deal
of commitment and a variety of strategies. IFLA strongly supports the Open
Access movement and welcomes the launch of many OA compliant publications.
IFLA also acknowledges the need to address the challenge on a number of
fronts and in partnership with many stakeholders."
One of the principal concerns identified by Alex Byrne was to support and
defend the moral rights of creators, while simultaneously seeking balance in
copyright legislation to protect and extend the public domain and public
interest in access to information. "This is fundamental to many areas
including health, education, development and culture", he added.
Subbiah Arunachalam
