Libraries & Scholarly Communication

The current models for scholarly publishing are no longer economically sustainable. The key challenges are summarized below. In response to these challenges, the University of California libraries are working with their partners throughout the University to influence scholarly communication systems. Components of the libraries' program include:

• UC libraries scholarly communication program and priorities statement. [PDF]
• 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].
• UC Libraries Scholarly Communication Officers Group: Includes the charge, members, and program priorities, and a set of Issues and Outreach Toolkits, including:
  • Managing Copyright (June 2006)
  • Economics of Scholarly Communication (June 2006)
  • The Role of Scholarly Societies (June 2006)
• Creating and Implementing a Scholarly Communication Program: The University of California Libraries as a Case Study (July 2006) : materials from a workshop offered contiguously with the first ACRL-ARL Scholarly Communication Institute at UCLA.
• Descriptions of campus library scholarly communication programs: Links to campus library web pages about collections management and scholarly communication issues.

For more information about current issues and trends, UC responses and the potential for action, see Reshaping Scholarly Communication web site an information source designed primarily for UC scholars.

Annual double-digit price increases for journals. Book production is up and library buying power down. Publisher mergers yield higher prices. Use market power to influence prices. Preference publishers who have sustainable business models. Provide data and background to faculty. See more about the economics of publishing at the Reshaping   Scholarly Communication web site.

Maximize reach and impact. Reduce or remove access barriers and toll-gates. Retain quality control. 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. See more about alternatives for scholarly communication   Reshaping Scholarly Communication web site.

Extend excellence in local collections. Discover and seize opportunities to share resources. Address the expense and constraints of physical space for housing materials. Increase breadth and depth through Universitywide material selection; co-invest. Share digital and print collections. Leverage regional storage facilities. See more about the libraries' current strategic planning and action.