Press release, 21 June 2007

The Dutch consortium of university libraries, UKB, and Springer have signed a letter of intent to the effect that they will jointly explore the potential of open access publishing. This is the first time a prominent scientific publisher and a consortium of research libraries explicitly join forces on an open access initiative. UKB strongly supports the open access model for scientific publishing as a means to stimulate the widespread use and re-use of scientific information, because payment of an 'article processing charge' ensures universal free access to the published information. Springer has developed its Open Choice-programme to meet increased demand by scientists for open access publication, while at the same time demonstrating the considerable added value of formal publishers and journals. So far the market has been rather reluctant to embrace open access publishing. Some still doubt the economic viability of the business model. Others stress that quite a few open access journals have yet to develop sufficient scientific credibility. The letter of intent signed by UKB en Springer is therefore designed to:

1. allow authors to gain experience with open access publishing in existing, established journals;

2. allow open access media to build a solid scientific reputation;

3. gain experience with 1) the economic viability of the business model whereby the publisher is paid for publication (at the point of input: pay-to-publish) rather than for access to content (at the point of output: subscriptions or access licenses); 2) the incorporation of open access in the scientific publication cycle and the consequences for all stakeholders.

In Springer Open Choice, all articles are peer-reviewed as usual; open access is introduced to further wider dissemination among the scientific community. It may also influence the journals' impact factor.

The letter of intent contains four elements:

1. Within the framework of the existing licensing agreement with UKB, Springer undertakes to offer free and immediate world-wide access to articles which have been accepted for publication in one of Springer's journals in 2007 by corresponding authors whose main affiliation is with one of the UKB members;

2. Springer allows for simultaneous publication of the articles in the open access institutional repositories of UKB members (DARE);

3. In the course of 2007, UKB and Springer will negotiate a long-term open access agreement;

4. The intention of both UKB and Springer is to evaluate the arrangement, which is seen as a pilot, with all stakeholders, and to actively disseminate the outcome of the evaluation.

More information:

UKB:
drs. M.A.M. Heijne, UKB chair, Librarian, Technical University Delft, +31 15 27 85 656
UKB secretariat

Springer:
Eric Merkel-Sobotta, Springer, VP Corporate Communications
eric.merkel-sobotta@springer.com +49 30 827 87 54 31
www.springer.com
Springer Open Choice

Berlin Declaration on open access to knowledge in the sciences and humanities

DARE

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