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 print  Concerns over image quality and digital rights  Regulators and professional bodies mandates  Advertising /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 A Print subscription: £150 Online 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 Ltd Report can be downloaded at: work/communicating-and-disseminating- research/transitions-scholarly- communications-portfolio-res