Few academic researchers and scholars deny the intellectual, scientific, economic and social benefits of open access to research findings. Yet, in the wake of the Finch report and the publication of the open access policies of most British funding bodies, open access has emerged as a hotly contested issue. Notwithstanding the vehemence of long-committed activists, the passionate nature of recent arguments belies the arcane and technical nature of the matter at hand. Open access has indeed become a battleground whereupon scholarly and scientific practises, public policy, copyright laws, market mechanisms and library services collide and pull researchers in opposite directions.
Open Access. Imprimatur in the age of academic deflation
Posted in Higher Education, Politics, Research
Tagged Finch Report, Gold OA, Green OA, open access, REF, scholarly communication
History Journals’ Statement on Open Access
We, as editors of the History journals listed below, would like to make our views clear in relation to the government’s planned implementation (in conjunction with RCUK and HEFCE) of the Finch Report. We fully support initiatives to make scholarship as widely and freely available as possible, above all on line. However, we have serious concerns about several aspects of the proposed implementation of the policy, which we believe will have a serious effect on the reputation of UK scholarship internationally, on peer review, and on the rights of authors.
Gold Open Access: Why you should be worried about it
This is a very busy time of the year for academics and few of us have had the chance to investigate the issues raised by Gold Open Access and its imposition upon the UK research base.
In response to a colleague’s suggestion, I have listed some of the reasons why the profession should be very concerned about the proposed Open Access policy and mobilize against it – at once.
Posted in Higher Education, Politics, Research
Tagged Finch Report, Gold OA, higher education, open access, REF, scholarly communication
