Re: practical solution

[Karl Bridges <Karl.Bridges@uvm.edu>]

Jane has the right idea. Libraries are the wrong place to put 
this responsibility -- for a whole set of reasons.

The problem with author fees is simple.  Higher education 
requires publication from faculty as a condition of employment. 
Making faculty pay these fees as individuals is making them have 
to pay for the privilege of being employed.  I think this is 
called a kickback.

If universities want to require publication they need to budget 
for these fees and pay them. It's simply a cost of doing business 
like the heat or the water. Personally, I'm on the opinion this 
ought to be centrally budgeted rather than coming out of the 
library line because central administrations are better equipped 
to deal with financial obligations that are spread all over 
campus -- as well as being the people administering grants and 
contracts -- which, arguably, is where alot of these fees should 
be coming from.

Karl Bridges
Associate Professor
Information and Instruction Services
Bailey Howe Library
University of Vermont
karl.bridges@uvm.edu <mailto:karl.bridges@uvm.edu>