Re: Elsevier Science appoints Leo Voogt

[Lloyd Davidson <ldavids@northwestern.edu>]

Unless Elsevier is willing to decrease the cost of their journals by 95%
or more for the more impoverished African countries, such as Uganda and
Nigeria, I can't see what good any Library Relations Director might do for
African libraries.  Similarly with countries like Pakistan, as noted in a
recent Nature letter.  Since even some pharmaceutical firms have begun to
concede that the prices they charge such countries for their products are
astronomically high (compared to their per capita income levels) and so
have begun to adjust their prices accordingly (to some extent, at least),
it is time for journal publishers and database producers to behave
similarly (ISI, for example.)  Perhaps some society publishers could lead
the way in this.  Some have, of course, such as the ASCB, which was an
early member of PublMed Central, but even they could go further by
providing assured access to individual researchers or specific
institutions that are in need (if there are any left) in such countries.

Lloyd

At 08:32 PM 6/14/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>FYI.  Many librarians and publishers on this list know Leo Vogt from his
>IFLA and Royal Dutch Book Trade Association work.
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 16:54:47 +0200
>From: Ifla HQ <IFLA.HQ@IFLA.NL>
>To: IFLA-L@INFOSERV.NLC-BNC.CA
>Subject: Elsevier Science appoints Leo Voogt
>
>Elsevier Science appoints Leo Voogt to Strengthen Library Relations
>
>June 16, 2001.  Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  Elsevier Science has
>appointed Leo Voogt as Director, Library Relations Europe, Middle East and
>Africa.  Voogt was formerly IFLA Secretary General and his appointment is
>key in Elsevier Science's goal to expand its international library
>community relations work and its leadership on issues of strategic
>importance to both publishers and librarians. Voogt will be supplementing
>the effective programmes that have been developed by Karen Hunter and John
>Tagler for the United States.
>
>Commenting on his appointment Derk Haank, Chairman Elsevier Science said
>"I am delighted that Leo is joining us.  He brings with him expertise and
>experience of leadership of the international librarian community and
>understanding of the issues of importance to them.  He will be a great
>asset to us as we further build library relations internationally."
>
>Voogt comes to Elsevier Science from the Royal Dutch Book Trade
>Association (KVB) where he was Executive Director.  He is very
>enthusiastic about the move to Elsevier Science: "In my new role, in very
>challenging times for both the publishing and the information profession,
>I look forward to working with librarians and information specialists in
>order to establish a real dialogue and better understanding between our
>communities."
>
>As the Secretary General of the International Federation of Library
>Associations and Institutions Voogt was actively involved in the Working
>Group on European Librarians and Publishers (ELP). He was also
>instrumental in developing a formal structure for a dialogue between the
>International Publisher's Association (IPA) and IFLA .
>
>In the coming months Voogt will be participating in the ALA Conference
>(San Francisco (June 15 - 21), the LIBER Conference (London, 3 - 7 July)
>and the IFLA Conference (Boston, 18 - 24 August). About Elsevier Science
>Elsevier Science (www.elsevier.com) is part of the Reed Elsevier plc group
>(www.reed-elsevier.com).  Operating in the scientific, legal and
>business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high value and
>flexible information solutions to professional end users, with increasing
>emphasis on the Internet as a delivery method.
>
>Contact information:    Jean Lawton
>Communications Director
>j.lawton@elsevier.nl
>Tel  +31 20 485 2661
>
>Leo Voogt
>Elsevier Science
>Sara Burgerhartstraat 25
>1055 KV Amsterdam
>The Netherlands
>  l.voogt@elsevier.nl
>Tel. +31 20 485 2393