Academic Libraries
Libraries–Journal Costs
Source: Guelph Mercury
General Public Finds Out About the High Cost of Library Journals (:
It’s good to see this perpetual issue getting some attention in the mainstream press. The article focuses on the journal price issue at the University of Guelph in Ontaria, Canada. From the article, “At the Canadian Association of Research Libraries, executive director Tim Mark also stressed the need for academics to seek new options for sharing articles. “Almost all commercial publishing of scholarly research is in the hands of a small number of publishers. The key is that the libraries and librarians know this is a major problem, but they need to take this to researchers and university administrations, and have this discussion.” Michael Ridley, chief librarian at the University of Guelph, said the problem is apparent at his institution. He tries to show professors how the budget is being sucked dry by journals that cost thousands of dollars. Some, he said, do not realize how much the materials cost. “Scholars historically were in charge of their own material, and in the 20th century that has moved over to the publishers,” he said. “The producers of the material do not understand the economics of the publishing.” The University of Guelph is a member of ARL.
See Also: “Revenge of the Librarians: Journal Prices Under Siege” (via E-Content May, 2002)

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