Re: Elsevier

[Alexander Kurz <kurz@mcs.le.ac.uk>]

Michael Barr wrote:
> I read John's manifesto, which was interesting.  One thing I do not
> understand is the reluctance of libraries and universities to get involved
> in this.  While TAC runs without any funding at all (except for the
> trivial storage cost that Mt. Alison contributes), a journal publishing a
> more typical 2000 pages a year would need at least a minimum of some
> clerical support.  A donation of $50/year by 100 universities would go a
> long way.
>
> Several years ago one of my colleagues suggested starting a free journal
> to be called McGill J. Math.  But there were so many naysayers in the
> department that the idea never got off the ground.  As far as I can tell,
> I was the only one to support the idea (and volunteer to help).  Pity.
>

An alternative way how libraries could support electronic publications
arises from the following thoughts.

What will or should be the role of libraries in the digital age?

Certainly, buying and storing hardcopies will play a smaller and smaller
role. So libraries should have an interest in finding something else to
do, just to survive as institutions themselves. What could that be?

I think university libraries could become publishers of electronic
journals. Universities should have an interest to host these journals,
because they provide prestige for little money.

As a conclusion, maybe the libraries could be convinced to DO the
`clerical support'.

Alexander