Laura Cox, Frontline GMS Ltd

ALPSP Survey (2008): over 91% of journals online.

Widely held that we should maximise digital benefits and eliminate print cost burdens.

Examine the barriers to an exclusively electronic only journals environment in UK HEIs and how to overcome them.

Literature search, SCONUL stats, publisher data, programme of interviews.

Massive transition print to online required redeployment, retraining and new skills.

No evidence that “print culture” still exists.

Two practical issues: Reluctance to “sell” to academics Non-activation of online access

Many publishers didn’t mention OA or didn’t think it was relevant

Academics and libraries welcome OA Majority of libraries shared publisher

view: OA is a different issue - not directly relevant

Reluctance to engage with open access is not in

itself a barrier

Some authors, editors and readers prefer printConcerns over image quality and digital rightsRegulators and professional bodies mandatesAdvertising /reprints (Medicine, Engineering)

Professional bodies to be targeted to change mandates to online.

Educate academics about quality of images.Use digital printing and Print on Demand

ALPSP survey found 95% of publishers make backfiles available – 37% retro-digitised

Lack of availability and funding in libraries RLUK libraries found it more important than

other institutions UKRR is an important reassurance

Availability of online backfiles does not prevent

migrating current print subs to online

Closely related to continuing demand for print

Faculty see the benefits: 24/7 availability Remote access Better discovery tools More journals available to them

Steady migration to online in all disciplines Work patterns already evolving, little needs

to be done other than at a local level

Small but significant segment of scholarly journals only available in print: Small presses and small societies in

Humanities University departments Foreign language titles

Diminishing problem

Help needed to move journals online

Opt-in deals do not attract publishers’ best prices.

Bloc purchase achieves best prices but provide libraries titles they don’t need.

UK wide consortium unlikely to work due to competition between universities.

JISC Collections is a great enabler, as seen with SHEDL and could assist in the creation of new regional all-in consortia.

Concerns about robustness of preservation and digital obsolescence.

No national strategy, range of projects and systems.

Confidence has increased due to UK LOCKSS Alliance, Portico and UKRR.

Considered in more details in Charles Beagrie’s

paper for JISC.

Changes in publisher and platforms Access and authentication and log-in problems Difference in interfaces and nomenclature

Standard terminology for user log-in All publishers implement Shibboleth and

Athens Definition of authorised users should include

as standard: walk-in use, affiliated staff Publishers sign up to UKSG Project Transfer

Right to continuing access is becoming standard, but is far from universal.

Problems: Maintenance fee, Physical media

Major problem for RLUK libraries, post-1992 much more relaxed.

Publishing trade bodies and UKSG should continue to tell publishers why this is important.

The zero rate cannot be extended!EC re-examining VAT directive with a

view to equalise print and online publications.

Nothing is going to change overnight.

There are measures that publishers can take: Effect a differential between print and online

pricing sufficient to mitigate VAT

Libraries face a plethora of pricing models. Not all publishers even offer online only

pricing. Publishers cannot discuss pricing policy. JISC and RLUK could bring together library

groups to create a statement of requirements: Integrate pricing models with other terms such as

authorised users, continuing access. Publishers must create online only pricing

that offsets VAT, this is a 17% difference.

Journal APrint subscription: £150Online subscription: £150 inclusive of

VAT

£150 /120% = £125

£125 x 20% = £25 VAT

£125 + £25 = £150

£25 is 16.67% of £150 (17% rounded)

Every publisher’s online only price is 17% less than print.

Promote the benefits of moving to e-only with briefing notes and seminars.

A clear national strategy for long term preservation.

Identify professional and regulatory bodies which only recognise print and address that issue.

JISC, RLUK and SCONUL develop a joint statement of requirements on pricing models and licensing terms including continuing access and authorised users.

Laura Cox Frontline GMS Ltdlaura.cox@frontlinegms.com

Report can be downloaded at:http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/communicating-and-disseminating-research/transitions-scholarly-communications-portfolio-res