Reading Assignment #9

Title: From Here to There: A Proposed Mechanism for Transforming Journals from Closed to Open Access

Author: David C. Prosser

URL: Prosser, David C. “From here to there: a proposed mechanism for transforming journals from closed to open access” (2003). Google Scholar. Web. 15 Oct. 2011.

Abstract of the article:

A major barrier to the greater take-up of an open access model for journal publishing has been the concern of many journal owners that they will not easily be able to migrate from the current subscription-based model to open access. This paper presents a potential migration path which should significantly reduce the financial risk to journal owners, while allowing them to offer open access to their authors.

Three things I learned from my Reading Assignment:

• Open access publishing is a policy of some publishers of scientific or scholarly articles to make the full text of that material freely available online to all interested readers with access to the Internet. This marks them out from ‘closed access’ journals that only allow materials to be read by somebody with a subscription to the journal (either directly or through their institution).
• Open access journals are not free journals – they are only free to the reader. There are costs in the peer-review process and the production of a journal (even if it is only online), and while estimates of the actual costs vary, the costs are real and must be met.
• Open access publication offers immense benefit for both authors and readers. However, there are still certain issues regarding publication charges and subscription prices that need to be addressed so that the journal owners can fully settle to open access. 

Application / Implication of the new things I learned to my work / to me as a person:

Upon learning that there are many open access journals available online for free, I will use my research skills in finding and selecting the significant and appropriate journals that may be beneficial for our library users. I will make the list of those websites/links shown in strategic places in the library. I will also suggest its use to our teachers and students.