APPENDIX 12
Memorandum from Professor James Crabbe,
University of Reading
I would just like to make a few points regarding
the inquiry.
1. As Head of a large School of Biology
(total staff 154) in a research-intensive University, it is vital
that we perform well in Research Assessment Exercises. Outputs
are a key to this, and I am under pressure to persuade my colleagues
to publish in high impact factor journals. So far, these journals
appear in print predominantly, usually in parallel with web access
to Institutions with a print subscription.
2. The pricing of most print journals increases
at a rate above that of inflation. When I was a Curator of our
University Library (until 2001) we were continually having to
decrease the numbers of journal subscriptions, even when these
were part of "big deal" schemes. Thus access to important
publications has been limited. This situation is worsening.
3. I am currently Editor of a print journal,
a member of an editorial board of two web-based (only) journals,
and a member of an editorial board of a print journal. The key
factor to all these journals is impact factor, essentially as
a result of RAE, quantifying the unquantifiable. Web-based open
access journals are an important step for the future dissemination
of scientific information, as long as peer review is rigorously
maintained. The rigour of iterative peer review is essential to
all scientific publications, minimising the risks of fraud and
malpractice.
4. Current print journals should be forced
to go to open access after no longer than six months. Finance
for this, as for all open access journals, could come from a mixture
of page charges, research council/HEFCE funding and funding from
Institutions.
April 2004
| 
