From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun@mssrf.res.in> 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 </V/cdoc/open-access04.html>' 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