Re: Nature subscriptions response from faculty

[David Goodman <dgoodman@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>]

We have a link on our web page requesting users to send in comments or
dissents. We have received a number, including some quite angry dissents
from faculty and others . All responses are answered immediately and
personally in detail by the appropriate subject librarian (often me, since
they are generally biologists).

A typical reply might read:

> Dear Professor      X,
>
> We too would like to restore Nature as soon as possible. The question is
> really one of strategy. If we were to subscribe under the current terms
> we would NEVER see any improvement; iworse, other publishers, like
> Science, would soon follow. If we continue our present course, which is
> the same as that followed by almost all major universities, we wiil
> probably succeed in restoring full access for everyone.  Many hundreds

> of scientists at the least have written to Nature's editor, saying they
> will not review or contribute while Nature maintains its present policy,
> and this is, I believe, having  quite an effect.  I've engaged in
> negotiations of the sort with publishers for many years--we don't always
> win, but I am reasonaby confident that this time we will. I welcome
> further discussion.

This almost always gets a reply from the faculty member, typically in
terms like:

>> Subject: Re: Nature

>> Thanks very much for your reply, your comments are very helpful.  It
>> really helps clarify the issues and provides a context for Princeton's
>> actions.

>> It is important for us to know that many other universities are
>> following this strategy because the solidarity of many universities is
>> likely needed if such an approach of towards Nature is to be
>> successful.

David Goodman, Princeton University Biology Library				
dgoodman@princeton.edu            609-258-3235

___

> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 08:14:44 -0600
> >         "'liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu'" <liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu>
> > From: Jean Gilbertson <jgilbertson@library.wisc.edu>
> > Subject: RE: Nature subscriptions responses
> >
> > David and others -
> >
> > The institutions that UW-Madison is currently aware of are listed on our
> > local Nature info website.  Our campus collection development officer is
> > contacting his colleagues at the other CIC institutions to see what they
> > have decided to do.  It would be helpful to have the large institutions
> > weigh in on this issue one way or another.  I'm also interested in knowing
> > whether faculty at other institutions understand and support a library
> > decision not to accept the present license and/or pricing model.  This
> > information would be helpful to all of us.
> >
> > See our page at:
> >
> > http://www.library.wisc.edu/journals/ejournals/nature.htm
> >
> > We left a link to this page in our campus ejournal list and in our catalog
> > record for Nature.
> >
> > Jean Gilbertson                    PHONE: 608-263-6864
> > Library Director                    EMAIL: jgilbertson@library.wisc.edu
> > Steenbock Memorial Library  FAX:   608-263-3221
> > University of Wisconsin
> > 550 Babcock Drive
> > Madison, WI 53706
> > http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Steenbock/