Re: Berlin-3 Open Access Conference, Southampton, Feb 28 - Mar 1 2005

["\"FrederickFriend\"" <ucylfjf@ucl.ac.uk>]

Anthony Watkinson under-estimates the extent of grass-roots academic
support for open access and the extent to which academic leaders
understand the advantages to research undertaken by their own institutions
from the development of repositories or from publication in OA journals.
Journals converting to an open access business model are doing so with
support from their editors and authors. These changes in scholarly
communication are very new and it is no surprise that many authors are
still uncertain about the long-term effect upon their careers, but the
evidence from the Key Perspectives surveys is that those who use open
access publication routes are satisfied enough to use them again. A small
sample can be just as valid as a large sample if the statistical structure
is sound. Anthony's own sample quotation from the JISC "Delivery
management and access" report is itself very selective and arguably not
representative of the report as a whole.

To answer Anthony's specific question: every university repository has
been established because the university has heard from some of its staff
that this would be a desirable development and, after looking at the costs
and benefits, has concluded that this would be good for the university.  
Universities do not take decisions by popular vote but equally they do not
commit resources unless they are convinced that a development will be good
for research and teaching. Most universities wish to take decisions in
consultation with their staff and in relation to repositories they are
finding general support.

Fred Friend
JISC Consultant