Information Research Weblog

Hi Tom,

This article on Open Access in the Guardian may be of interest - particularly the comment

"We are worried that the research councils in the UK are trying to push in the direction of a parallel economy without thinking of the possible damage to the journals on which they parasitise."

It seems the prospect of a parallel informational economy (as distinct from a knowledge one) has some people worried. As a manager of e-journal collections I am amazed at the recent growth of free-to-air (albeit embargoed) versions of core titles in biomedicine. Is 'access' winning the battle over 'acquisition'?


John Holgate
Director of Library Services
St. George Hospital