ALPSP Learned Journals Collection 2004 launched

[Ann Okerson <aokerson@pantheon.yale.edu>]

Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 10:36:43 +0100
From: Sally Morris <sec-gen@alpsp.org>

The ALPSP Learned Journals Collection (www.alpsp-collection.org) is a
project of the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers
(ALPSP) in cooperation with Swets Blackwell and Extenza, which enables
smaller (and, indeed, medium-sized) publishers to sell more effectively to
consortia and other large customers by including their journals in a
single package, organised and sold on their behalf by Swets Blackwell with
a single umbrella licence, pricing model and delivery platform ('SwetsWise
online content').  It is an attempt to counter the effect of the 'Big
Deals' which the largest publishers are able to offer, and which tend to
squeeze out the offerings of small publishers, however high quality and
reasonably priced their journals may be.

August 15th was the closing date for publishers to sign up for the
Collection.  Interest in the Collection has exceeded our wildest
expectations - no fewer than 247 journals from 25 publishers are included
in the Collection for 2004, which will also be available in
discipline-based subsets for those customers who don't need to buy them
all.  Indeed, a significant number of publishers have joined ALPSP
primarily in order to be included in the Collection.

I'm sorry if some publishers missed the deadline - we had to have a
cut-off date so that Swets Blackwell could start their sales efforts, with
a definitive list of journals and a definitive price;  they already have a
good list of interested customers, including JISC representing all the
universities in the UK.  However, we hope that the 2005 Collection will be
even bigger and better - so if you're interested in signing up in good
time for that, do let Caroline Mackay know at Swets Blackwell
(info@alpsp-collection.org).  Participation is only open to ALPSP members,
so if you are interested in joining (this is, of course, by no means the
only benefit of membership) see http://www.alpsp.org/memship.htm.

Libraries interested in purchasing the Collection should also contact
Caroline Mackay at Swets Blackwell (info@alpsp-collection.org).

Sally Morris, Secretary-General, ALPSP (sec-gen@alpsp.org)

About ALPSP

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) is
the international trade association for not-for-profit publishers and
those who work with them; it currently has 272 members in 27 countries. We
provide representation of our sector, professional development activities,
and a wealth of information and advice.

Website:  www.alpsp.org