Libraries & Scholarly Communication
Reshaping Scholarly Communication, an information resource designed primarily for UC scholars, has the most up-to-date information about scholarly communication issues and trends facing the UC libraries, including UC responses and the potential for action. The UC libraries are working with partners throughout the University and beyond to influence scholarly communication system.
The key challenges of existing models of scholarly publishing are summarized in the charts below, along with specific responses undertaken by the UC libraries.
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- Annual double-digit price increases for journals.
- Book production is up and library buying power down.
- Publisher mergers yield higher prices.
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- Use market power to influence prices.
- Preference publishers who have sustainable business models.
- Provide data and background to faculty.
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- Maximize reach and impact.
- Reduce or remove access barriers and toll-gates.
- Retain quality control.
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- Support faculty innovations and experiments with publishing.
- Harness technology to improve dissemination through UC's eScholarship program.
- Help UC identify and support transformative business models.
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- Extend excellence in local collections.
- Discover and seize opportunities to share resources.
- Address the expense and constraints of physical space for housing materials.
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- Increase breadth and depth through Universitywide material selection; co-invest.
- Share digital and print collections.
- Leverage regional storage facilities.
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Some history...
In 2004, the UC libraries developed a scholarly communication program and priorities statement [PDF].
In 2007, the UC libraries' Collection Development Committee (CDC) wrote "The Promise of Value-based Journal Prices and Negotiation: A UC Report and View Forward" (January, 2007) [PDF]. See also the related Press Release [PDF].
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